Gnomie Sven writes:

Last week, you probably saw the posting on WiMax entitled WiMax, now with Rogaine for
hair growth! Basically, it said that WiMax (also known numerically as
802.16) has no chance and that Intel was trying to pull a fast one all of us
with its release of it “under our noses…”

Well I have to take a different approach on this technology than the previous
article did. First, WiMax is NOT Wi-Fi. Wi-Fi (802.11a/b/g) has always been
meant for short distances while WiMax is envisioned to span miles. You
won’t be bound to your local Starbucks with WiMax as you are with Wi-Fi.
Further, the speed factor is higher then the more common grade of Wi-Fi that
you get with your Frappuccino. Finally, its sole purpose is to bring
bandwidth to those who have no DSL or cable option and frown on satellite
“broadband.” Since I’ll be moving to one of these fiber-barren wastelands in
the near future, WiMax is a dream come true! High speed Internet at the same
cost as DSL? Dude, who are you kidding to say it doesn’t have a chance?

This technology isn’t just for farmer John, either. Wireless Internet isn’t a
new idea (remember that now defunct pioneer of the late ’90s?) and it’s time
for real competition for the wired broadband outfits. Cingular, T-Mobile,
Verizon, and Sprint will jump to take the Baby Bell and Mega Cable companies
on! Remember that Internet access and what people were willing to pay for it was
very different when the first metro wireless company existed. People will pay
to have it anywhere all the time and not have to worry about having two or
three (or more) different Wi-Fi accounts as many travelers do today. They
already have “Wireless DSL” in Berlin (using a different proprietary technology, but the same idea
applies) and the response has been huge! While those Bluetooth-loving, GSM
freak geeks know good stuff when they see it, I think WiMax will catch on
here in the States.

To think that my future iPAQ may have a WiMax chip in it and I can check out
Lockergnome anywhere my cell phone gets a signal is invigorating! Ya, that
makes me say, “What’s a Hotspot?” :)