WiMax certificate cannot be released later this year

The WiMax Forum has stepped back from the launch of the first certificate for wireless broadband-enabled products. They will only be released in mid-January at a conference in California (USA).

Although not too long, this delay is becoming a controversial topic and further raises doubts about the potential of technology. With Wi-Fi networking popular in many areas and third-generation (3G) mobile communication systems in the US, Asia and Europe, some observers believe it may be too late for a technology. Other emerging win a place.

According to Mo Shakouri, deputy director of the WiMax Forum, a reason for the delay is that the Wimax product testing process is divided into two steps: the coverage level and the interoperability of a product with the devices of many other houses. Shakouri also acknowledged that the expectations were too high and that many problems arose, partly undermining the efforts of the whole organization.

Product certification is an important step for people to ensure interoperability between equipment of manufacturing companies. In addition, it allows all WiMax investors not to be tied to any manufacturer. Standardized delay will create a revenue gap for manufacturers. " The big problem with a new technology is determining when the final version will be tested in the real world ," said Abner Germanow, an analyst with IDC.

The first certificate is expected to come next month mainly for fixed WiMax products, operating on IEEE 802.16-2004 specifications and not applicable on the move. The IEEE 802.16e mobile standard, adopted almost a month ago, will only appear after 2007.

The WiMax Forum will issue certificates for at least three types of products using the 3.5 GHz spectrum in the International Business Fair of the Wireless Telecommunications Association (WCA) from January 17-20 in the US. They can be products using TDD (time-division duplexing), one of the two basic technical methods in WiMax devices. FDD (frequency-division duplexing) products, which provide more advanced features such as voice service quality, will be certified in the second round in mid 2006.