Vendors Predict First WiMAX Certification In 2005

Two vendors said Friday they will work together to be first to market with certified WiMAX systems, saying they expected to submit a WiMAX system for interoperability testing in the first half of 2005.

Fujitsu Microelectronics America (FMA) and Wi-LAN, Inc. said they would partner with the goal of being first to market with WiMAX equipment for network operators. WiMAX refers to the 802.16 standard for wireless broadband, which is expected to be ratified later this year. The WiMAX Forum is a trade organization that will certify equipment as being compliant with the standard.

The head of Wi-LAN noted that some vendors have been talking about releasing pre-standard equipment.

"In spite of the hype about early equipment availability from other vendors, the fact is that there can be no certified products before WiMAX conformance specifications are established," Dr. Sayed-Amr El-Hamamsy, Wi-LAN's president and CEO, said in a statement.

Those specifications for determining conformance are expected to be ratified in November.FMA is a semiconductor vendor and Wi-LAN is a developer of wireless communications products aimed at telecommunications operators.