Intel could add WiMax to netbooks this year

Having a netbook without wireless internet connectivity seems such a waste. Having a mobile connection is even better, so you can easily use your mini laptop while on the go.

Such connectivity can be achieved via 3G, but this solution is pretty expensive and requires a 3G modem. There’s also the WiMax option, and Intel plans to push this one more in the US this year. They now offer the 6250 Wimax internal chipset that will allow users to access Clearwire’s network of Wimax broadband access. This network does not cover all the areas in the US, but where it does, it provides 4-6 Mbps speeds for download and 1-2 Mbps for upload. And there’s still enough room for improvement, as Intel and Clear work to at least double these rates in the near future.

But, while the new internal WiMax chip is better and less power hungry than the existing external ones, using your laptop on WiMax will still eat though battery life like mice through cheese. So, if you plan to use a notebook connected to WiMax while mobile, you’d better have a spare battery on you.

Of course, Intel has its own interest to accelerate WiMax absorption in the US, as they are one of the investors in Clearwire. It will really depend on the fees practiced and on what will the 4G technology be able to offer potential customers. For now, it’s obvious WiMax has its own strong-points, but we’ll just have to wait and see if the US public will addopt the technology like the ones in the highly technologized countries in eastern Asia.

Source: The standard

Tags: Intel Atom, WiMax, wireless