Intel Offers Its First WiMAX Chip
Intel Corp . today is introducing its first communications chip that uses WiMAX, a wireless technology that proponents hope will accelerate the spread of high-speed Internet access.
The semiconductor giant, of Santa Clara, Calif., also is announcing its first personal-computer chips that have the equivalent of two processors on each piece of silicon.
WiMAX can deliver Internet connections over a range of one to 10 miles, compared with around 150 feet for the WiFi connections that are found in many offices, cafes and public places. The new technology is targeted first at replacing stationary wired connections and later for mobile use with laptop computers.
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Other companies, including Japan's Fujitsu Ltd., plan to sell WiMAX chips. But Intel's marketing muscle, which helped popularize WiFi, is widely seen as crucial in promoting WiMAX and driving prices down.
Its new chip is designed for use in devices that send and receive WiMAX signals in the home and from base stations owned by communications carriers. Starting at $45, in 1,000-unit quantities, Intel hopes the chip will help drive down the price of home WiMAX hardware from current levels of about $500.
"We are headed to move it under $200," said Scott Richardson, general manager of Intel's Broadband Wireless division.
Mr. Richardson said 12 hardware companies have adopted the chip so far and about 100 network operators around the world are planning WiMAX tests.
WiMAX has advantages in thinly populated areas where wired alternatives are too expensive and for replacing wires in connecting public WiFi networks to the Internet. WiMAX faces problems in urban areas with interference caused by buildings, trees and other obstacles, argues Bert Williams, vice president of marketing at Tropos Networks, a Sunnyvale, Calif., company that sells WiFi networking hardware.
WiMAX, which isn't expected to be ready for mobile use for two years or more, also faces competition from so-called 3G, or third-generation, technologies being pushed by cellular carriers.
In another race, Intel is set to beat rival Advanced Micro Devices Inc. to market today with chips that have the core circuitry of two microprocessors. PC makers such as Dell Inc. plan to start selling machines based on the technology. AMD, of Sunnyvale, Calif., had been angling for bragging rights with its launch for such "dual core" products scheduled for Thursday, starting with chips for servers.
AMD, meanwhile, is using a conference of the National Association of Broadcasters to demonstrate success in pushing its chip technology in Hollywood. Among other things, AMD today is announcing a three-year alliance with DreamWorks Animation SKG Inc., under which the studio will use Opteron chips in servers and desktop computers. No terms are being disclosed in the alliance, which includes joint marketing and promotional activity. 英特尔推出首款使用 WiMAX 技术的通讯晶片
《华尔街日报》 (The Wall Street Journal) 获悉，英特尔 (Intel Corp., INTC) 周一推出首款使用 WiMAX 技术的通讯晶片， WiMAX 技术将会加速高速网络的推广。
英特尔还宣布，推出首款单晶片组双核心处理器的个人电脑。
包括日本的富士通 (Fujitsu Ltd., 6702.TO) 在内的其他公司也计划销售 WiMAX 晶片。外界广泛预计英特尔强大的市场销售能力将会极大的推动 WiMAX 的推广，并推动价格逐步下降。
英特尔宽频无线业务部门总经理 Scott Richardson 表示，目前已经有 12 家硬件厂商采用了这种晶片，全球约有 100 家网络运营商正计划进行 WiMAX 测试。
