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CTIA Wireless 2008: Nokia Unveils the WiMAX Internet Tablet N810

 

The long wait is finally over and the predictions of industry observers have come true.  With Nokia formally announcing the N810 internet tablet, one more device based on native use of WiMAX (and WiFi) gets added to the domain of WiMAX enabled devices.

With many of the international operators placing their bets on Mobile WiMAX, the availability of devices and their pricing has been the main factor for their networks taking off just the way mobile networks did a decade back.

            The news on further expansion of XOHM (beyond the initial launch cities of Chicago, Washington DC and Baltimore) remains eagerly awaited. Versions of the Nokia N810 are expected to support the XOHM specifically (Nokia N870). XOHM has also announced a WiMAX phone developed jointly by Samsung and XOHM.

The internet Tablet is designed to provide mobile wireless access to internet using an open core architecture independent of the cellular networks and 3G-evolved technologies such as EV-Do by using the combination of WiFi and WiMAX.

            The internet Tablet joins the mobile Wimax internet space with other devices such as those for gaming (POSDATA) being already available in addition to a variety of PC cards and USB adapters.

 

 

WiMAX enabled devices now have matching software for real time streaming applications

CES, Las Vegas, Jan  2008

WiMAX  enabled devices ( such as UMPCs, Internet Tablets etc.)  can now use  software which enables them to stream video over the WiMAX network. This solution is provided by PocketCaster™ software from ComVu®. PocketCaster also provides GPS mapping enhancing its utility for people on the move.

            A live demo of the software was available at the CES at Las Vegas in Jan 2008. The software is likely to find widespread application with the launch of  mobile WiMAX networks such as XOHM by Sprint Nextel and that by Clearwire in 2008.  A number of WiMAX enabled devices are being announced for interface to the WiMAX networks. These include the ultra low power UMPCs based on Intel’s “Menlow” chip family.

            The PocketCaster can be used in multiple ways including streaming ( Unicasting) of  stored or live video and including its delivery to Web 2.0 enabled devices. While it has been available to operate via existing 3G or WiFi networks( by using a range of handsets such as Nokia N73,N80,E65 etc)  the extension to WiMAX is an important development.

Mobile WiMAX: Updates from NAB 2008

NAB has not been a fora where wireless or WiMAX technologies take centre stage. This privilege is normally associated with events such as the WiMAX Forum World Congress, CTIA wireless or CES. Of late, with the broadcasting moving to the digital domain and the convergence technologies such as IPTV being the theme ( i.e. at NAB 2008) and  mobile TV attracting extraordinary interest, operators attention has also been attracted to the new technologies. In the NAB, keynote speakers have also emphasized on the increasing importance of delivering a multimedia portal rather than just a mobile TV transmission to mobile devices. This has led to considerable attention being focused on the mobile WiMAX technologies in being able to deliver the new “ 4th Generation broadcasting”.

                  WiMAX broadcasting had moved into the domain of possible new technologies for new generation broadcasting after the demonstration of WiMAX Tv by MobiTV in NAB 2007, which also saw Nortel demonstrating its Mobile WiMAX service with TV streaming capabilities. With the mobile WiMAX wave 2 profiles just having been defined by the WiMAX forum  at that time and no certified wave 2 devices being available at that time, that is as far as they could go at NAB 2007.

                  Considerable water has flown under the bridge since NAB 2007 and the NAB 2008 did not disappoint the viewers except for the delay of the expansion of the XOHM network beyond the initial three cities of Chicago, Baltimore and Washington.

                  Firstly the Mobile WiMAX is the only wireless technology using which Mobile TV can be delivered in the broadcast mode. This is owing to the multicast and broadcast (MBS) feature of the mobile WiMAX which can enable transmission to tens of thousands of mobile devices without the usual limitations of unicast connections. Wave 2 also supports MIMO and advanced antenna systems which are necessary to provide connectivity to mobile and handheld antennas subject to multipath propagation and low antenna gains. Nextwave® has come out with a WiMAX TV product based on multicasting (called MxTV), which was unveiled just prior to the NAB 2008( at CTIA wireless). At the NAB, UDcast unveiled its product for the same application i.e. WiMAX TV. The demonstrations included the complete ecosystem including the chipsets which will be used in receivers for such an application. Nextwave for example demonstrated its Wave 2 compliantNW2000 series WiMAX subscriber device System-on-a-Chip (SoC). Receiver devices based on this chipset should be available by Mid 2008.

                   Secondly a number of other Mobile WiMAX compatible devices have been unveiled earlier this year. This includes the Nokia N810 internet tablet, Samsung UMPCs, POSDATA gaming devices and UMPC and Samsung handsets. Over 100 types of CPEs and attachments such as PC cards, USB modems etc are now available which can enable a range of devices for mobile WiMAX. WiMAX laptops have been announced by other vendors as well, such as Acer(Acer Aspire 5920).

                  Third, the Wave 2 certification of devices by the WiMAX forum has commenced in earnest and at least 8 devices, having been certified were available at the time of the NAB 2008. These included wave 2 base stations as well as receiving devices. While the present certifications have been in the 2.3 GHz band, middle of 2008 should also see a range of devices in the 2.5 GHz band as well.

                  Fourth, services such as Internet radio have found increasing user acceptance and WiMAX is seen as one of the most effective ways to deliver continuously streaming internet radios to a range of mobile devices. IPTV and mobile TV ( such as ATSC- MPH based on IP data casting)  are all based on IP based delivery of multimedia content and WiMAX is seen as the most effective means to deliver these as user portals with embedded news, mobile TV and RSS feeds  as compared to terrestrial broadcast media.

                  Fifth news continued to flow in from many countries of successful commercial launches of mobile WiMAX networks as well as major investments. This included the Wateen Telecom, $ 500 million investment by Tata communications in India and $ 500 million by Intel in Taiwan. This is in addition to investments in Brazil, Malaysia and other countries.

                  Will WiMAX broadcasting target only mobile handsets for mobile TV where a number of technologies are already jostling for space? Far from it, as NAB has unveiled, it is likely to target the full range of mobile devices from music players and gaming devices to location based products, geographic information systems and multimode WiMAX/ WiFi and mobile devices.

                  Of great interest at the NAB 2008 were the keynotes and Super sessions, one of the notable ones being from Enrique Rodriguez from Microsoft’s connected  TV division whose thrust of  delivery was to convey how the broadcast devices ( such as TV) are today isolated from the connected world, such as web portals and social networking which form the core of user interest. The new generation technologies, especially for mobile devices will be of the “connected TV types” involving internet and TV. Mobile WiMAX is one of the most powerful medium to deliver such products.

 

WiMAX Forum Congress Asia 2008 and Exhibition, 9-10 April 2008, Singapore

The WiMAX Forum Congress and Exhibition, a much sought after event by the WiMAX  industry and users is set to be held at Singapore in April 2008. The excitement in the WiMAX camp is increasing as the launch of XOHM in United States will showcase the differentiating features of the mobile WiMAX technology. Not surprisingly the Forum also features WiMAX Vs. LTE and UMB debate as well as winning strategies for next generation technology. The fact that the disruptive technology of WiMAX is now coming to fruitation  is in fact featuring as one of the session topics. The same theme will be echoed in a parallel track “ from walled gardens to fat pipes”, being the way the WiMAX industry wishes to project this technology.The Congress will also provide updates on WiMAX testing and certification and regulatory developments. With Asia being one of the regions where WiMAX has advanced rapidly for providing broadband wireless services, the interest is high.

The Congress will also throw more light on the new opportunities arising from the OFDMA-TDD being accepted by an air interface by WRC-2007 and becoming one of the approved air interfaces under IMT advanced.

A number of new WiMAX devices are also readying for their entry, which include the likes of Nokia 810/830 Internet tablet and ASUS UMPC amongst others. The Exhibition will perhaps provide the best opportunity to see everything from wave 2 devices, base stations, networking equipment and consumer devices.

Almost around the world, in Las Vegas the NAB show(11-17 April 2008)  will also open with its theme of IPTV and streaming media. WiMAX TV System is one of the products being highlighted by UDCast. As the new WiMAX networks go live, Video streaming and multicast is expected to be one of the most important applications of the new technology which provides an assured QoS for services, which go a long way from frozen frames or flickering windows of video delivered by the internet.

Horizon Wi-Com launches Mobile WiMAX in nine US cities

The launch of Mobile WiMAX by WiCom infact is a brave move to be ahead in the market as new WiMAX devices become more readily available. Even though the crash in CPE prices will happen only with the launch of other major networks including XOHM from Sprint Nextel and Clearwire, the initial launch helps get the company ready with the network overcoming the challenges said to be dogging WiMAX networks. With PC WiMAX cards, USB dongles already available and WiMAX UMPCs, Handsets being launched, Wi-Com should see an excellent ecosystem before the year is out.

Amitabh Kumar www.wimax-home.com

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