The New Nation - Internet Edition

WiMAX is coming, are you ready?

Md. Habib-ur-Rahman Mollah

Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission is likely to invite application for WiMAX license in mid-July, said the commission's chairman, Major General Manzurul Alam (retired). Chairman of BTRC also said "WiMAX is a promising technology and our existing submarine cable has a huge bandwidth and we'll be able to utilize it properly". 'Population density and environmental perspectives will help introduce a new generation high-speed internet broadband service in the country,' he told reporters at Radisson Hotel after the end of a two-day international workshop.

A city, a region, as long as a radio, the announcer's voice could be widely transmitted to the neighboring regions of all the radio. The same token, a WiMAX base stations from the elevated antenna, we can achieve the neighbouring regions of the two-way broadband data services, WiMAX is so magical. But what is WiMAX?

WiMAX is one of the hottest broadband wireless technologies around today. WiMAX systems are expected to deliver broadband access services to residential and enterprise customers in an economical way.

Loosely, WiMax is a standardized wireless version of Ethernet intended primarily as an alternative to wire technologies ( such as Cable Modems, DSL and T1/E1 links ) to provide broadband access to customer premises.

More strictly, WiMAX is an industry trade organization formed by leading communications component and equipment companies to promote and certify compatibility and interoperability of broadband wireless access equipment that conforms to the IEEE 802.16 and ETSI HIPERMAN standards.

WiMAX would operate similar to WiFi but at higher speeds, over greater distances and for a greater number of users. WiMAX has the ability to provide service even in areas that are difficult for wired infrastructure to reach and the ability to overcome the physical limitations of traditional wired infrastructure.

WiMAX was formed in April 2001, in anticipation of the publication of the original 10-66 GHz IEEE 802.16 specifications. WiMAX is to 802.16 as the Wi-Fi Alliance is to 802.11.

WiMAX is:

v Acronym for Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access.

v Based on Wireless MAN technology.

v A wireless technology optimized for the delivery of IP centric services over a wide area.

v A scaleable wireless platform for constructing alternative and complementary broadband networks.

v A certification that denotes interoperability of equipment built to the IEEE 802.16 or compatible standard. The IEEE 802.16 Working Group develops standards that address two types of usage models:

(a) A fixed usage model (IEEE 802.16-2004).

(b) A portable usage model (IEEE 802.16e).

What is 802.16a ?

WiMAX is such an easy term that people tend to use it for the 802.16 standards and technology themselves, although strictly it applies only to systems that meet specific conformance criteria laid down by the WiMAX Forum.

The 802.16a standard for 2-11 GHz is a wireless metropolitan area network (MAN) technology that will provide broadband wireless connectivity to Fixed, Portable and Nomadic devices.

It can be used to connect 802.11 hot spots to the Internet, provide campus connectivity, and provide a wireless alternative to cable and DSL for last mile broadband access.

WiMax Speed and Range:

WiMAX is expected to offer initially up to about 40 Mbps capacity per wireless channel for both fixed and portable applications, depending on the particular technical configuration chosen, enough to support hundreds of businesses with T-1 speed connectivity and thousands of residences with DSL speed connectivity. WiMAX can support voice and video as well as Internet data.

WiMax will be to provide wireless broadband access to buildings, either in competition to existing wired networks or alone in currently unserved rural or thinly populated areas. It can also be used to connect WLAN hotspots to the Internet. WiMAX is also intended to provide broadband connectivity to mobile devices. It would not be as fast as in these fixed applications, but expectations are for about 15 Mbps capacity in a 3 km cell coverage area.

With WiMAX users could really cut free from today.s Internet access arrangements and be able to go online at broadband speeds, almost wherever they like from within a MetroZone.

WiMAX could potentially be deployed in a variety of spectrum bands: 2.3GHz, 2.5GHz, 3.5GHz, and 5.8GHz

WiMAX towers can connect with other towers to extend its range.

Why WiMax ?

WiMAX can satisfy a variety of access needs. Potential applications include extending broadband capabilities to bring them closer to subscribers, filling gaps in cable, DSL and T1 services, Wi-Fi and cellular backhaul, providing last-100 meter access from fibre to the curb and giving service providers another cost-effective option for supporting broadband services.

WiMAX can support very high bandwidth solutions where large spectrum deployments (i.e. >10 MHz) are desired using existing infrastructure keeping costs down while delivering the bandwidth needed to support a full range of high-value, multimedia services.

WiMAX can help service providers meet many of the challenges they face due to increasing customer demands without discarding their existing infrastructure investments because it has the ability to seamlessly interoperate across various network types.

WiMAX can provide wide area coverage and quality of service capabilities for applications ranging from real-time delay-sensitive voice-over-IP (VoIP) to real-time streaming video and non-real-time downloads, ensuring that subscribers obtain the performance they expect for all types of communications.

WiMAX, which is an IP-based wireless broadband technology, can be integrated into both wide-area third-generation (3G) mobile and wireless and wireline networks, allowing it to become part of a seamless anytime, anywhere broadband access solution.

Ultimately, WiMAX is intended to serve as the next step in the evolution of 3G mobile phones, via a potential combination of WiMAX and CDMA standards called 4G.

WiMAX Goals:

A standard by itself is not enough to enable mass adoption. WiMAX has stepped forward to help solve barriers to adoption, such as interoperability and cost of deployment. WiMAX will help ignite the wireless MAN industry, by defining and conducting interoperability testing and labeling vendor systems with a "WiMAX Certifiedâ"¢" label once testing has been completed successfully.

Bangladesh is also an emerging market for WiMAX technology. WiMAX is a dynamic solution to establishing long-haul data communication link to distant areas. Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC) has plans to give WiMAX license in May this year.

The introduction of WiMAX can have a synergetic effect on rural areas. The government and private stakeholders could come forward and utilize this technology to build knowledge centers across the country where people can get e-heath, e-education and e-business related services which will effectively improve their livelihood.

Hi-phone anyone? Fake mobiles threaten China brands

Zhou Xin

Steve Jobs may not lose sleep over knock-off iPhones, but legitimate Chinese brands such as Ningbo Bird are fretting about fakes in the cut-throat world of low-end handset makers.

China is the world's largest market for handsets, but domestic brands such as Ningbo Bird and Amoi are struggling amid intense price competition from local rivals, including some that specialise in knock-offs, having ceded their once dominant market position to foreign brands.

"A Nokia user would not be my client, but those who use Ningbo Bird handsets are very eager to try my products," said Fu Jiangang, who owns a website that sells pirated and unregistered mobile phones.

Fu is now thinking about upgrading his Hiphone, a blatant ripoff of Apple Inc's popular iPhone which comes at a fraction of the original's price.

From four small assembly plants owned by a partner located in the southern boom-town of Shenzhen, Fu sells hundreds of handsets a month and is targetting farmers, migrant workers and other low-income users to expand his sales network.

"You can't expect a farmer earning 10,000 yuan a year to spend 5,000 yuan on a new phone," said Fu. "But the farmer also wants phones that look fancy, can take pictures and play music."

His products are competing against Ningbo Bird and a host of other domestic manufacturers such as Konka and Lenovo in the bottom third of the market.

Ningbo Bird reported a loss of 34 million yuan ($4.94 million) for the first quarter, citing fierce competition in the local market, one that it once dominated just a few years ago.

Amoi, another domestic handset maker, reported losses of 121 million yuan also in the first quarter.

Nokia now leads the Chinese market, while five foreign makers commanded almost 70 percent of the domestic mobile market, according to research firm Analysys International.

In Shenzhen alone, according to official data, there are more than 600 mobile phone producers and 3,000 component providers.

Zhu Xiang, who used to run a handset plant in Shenzhen but now acts as an agent bridging overseas buyers with local producers, said the price war is "bloody".

"In 2006, I made 100 yuan from a handset," Zhu said. "In 2007, 50 yuan, and now, less than 20 yuan."

The falling barriers to entry have attracted an army of small manufacturers willing to compete on razor-thin profit margins, including factories that once produced TV remote controls and MP3 players, Fu said.

China's statistics bureau said the average price of communication devices fell almost 20 percent in May compared with a year ago, while headline consumer inflation rose 7.7 percent.

"In the last two years, we have witnessed the rise of once unknown names like K-touch and the fall of premier brands like Ningbo Bird," said Jiang Lifeng, an analyst with Beijing-based CCID consulting.

Jiang said about 170 million handsets were sold in China last year, while an estimated 70 million were pirated or unregistered.

But the rapid rise of competitors is taking its toll.

Ren Qian, a manager with Ferex Electronics, another Shenzhen mobile phone manufacturer, said many firms were already in difficulties due to rising labour and production costs.

"The profit margin is shrinking, the cost is rising, and I see many firms are dying," said Ren.

SAMSUNG Ultra Messaging i780: 'The trustworthy companion for business professionals’

The Ultra Messaging i780 is the business professional's most trustworthy companion yet. Equipped with touchscreen features and a full QWERTY keyboard, the Ultra Messaging i780 gives users the best of both worlds, whether the user prefers using a stylus to switch between applications or type their emails with the keyboard. The SGH-i780 makes navigation easier with the Optical Joystick, which acts like a mini optical mouse, freeing the user's movement from a rigid vertical-horizontal axis and allowing them to roam over the screen more quickly and more efficiently.

Stay connected at all times with the range of connectivity options available on the Ultra Messaging i780. Download your documents and files in a breeze with its HSDPA capabilities, or go online to check your emails at a café using WiFi connectivity.

The Ultra Messaging i780 is also fitted with location based functions to help you find your way around. Navigate with ease using the integrated GPS and bundled navigation software, and save time and effort by getting to the right destination with clear voiceprompted turn-by-turn directions with the Ultra Messaging i780.

The Ultra Messaging i780 gives users the perfect balance for work and play. The Office Mobile allows business professionals to read and edit documents on Excel, Powerpoint and Word, while the Live Search functions on the Ultra Messaging i780 helps you locate information that you need from the Internet. Not forgetting entertainment, the Ultra Messaging i780 also comes with a two megapixel camera, a VGA camera, and a multimedia player which plays multiple video and audio formats.

The SGH-i780 is now available at a recommended retail price of Tk. 33,000.00 without contract.

SGH-i780 Specifications

Standard HSDPA (3.6Mbps) /EDGE/ GPRS /GSM (900/1800/1900MHz)

Camera 2 Megapixel Camera with 2x Digital Zoom VGA Camera

Display 65K TFT Colour (320 x 320)

Features Multi-Format Music Support (MP3,AAC,AAC+, WMA)

OMA DRMv1.0 / Background Music Play

Video Recording and Messaging (MPEG4,H.263. WMV)

Bluetooth v2.0 EDR / USB 2.0 / WiFi 802.11 b/g

Windows Mobile 6 Professional

E-mail ( POP3, IMAP4, SMTP, SSL, TLS)

Windows Live

Voice Memo, Voice Mail, Voice Recording in Call

GPS Navigation with Enhanced-GPS

QWERTY Keyboard / Push Email

Java MIDP 2.0

RSS Reader, Podcast

Offline Mode / Hands-free speaker / Speaker Phone

Memory Internal 150MB + support for MicroSD up to 8GB

Size 120g / 115.9 x 61.3 x 12.9mm

Phone battery capacity : 1480mAh

Talk Time : Up to 7 Hours/ Standby Time : Up to 400 Hours

Virgin Mobile introduces unlimited calling plan

Peter Svensson

Virgin Mobile USA is introducing a plan with unlimited calling for $79.99 per month, helping feed the price-cutting frenzy that has washed over the cellular carriers this year.

The prepaid plan will be available July 1, the carrier said. Virgin was charging $99.99 for 1000 minutes per month with no limit on night and weekend calls.

Verizon Wireless introduced a plan with unlimited nationwide calling in February for $99.99 per month that was quickly matched by its competitors.

Sprint Nextel Corp., whose network Virgin Mobile uses, charges $89.99 for its own unlimited plan, which includes free messaging. Virgin Mobile charges $10 extra per month for unlimited messaging.

The prices do not include taxes and fees that can add up to $10 a month.

Virgin Mobile may be hoping with its new plan to reap a sales boost as Verizon Wireless and AT&T have since they introduced their comparable plans in February. Both carriers said more people upgrade to the unlimited plan than downgrade from more expensive plans.

The average revenue per user at Virgin Mobile was $19.93 per month in the first quarter, less than half of the average charges at the larger carriers. It had 5.1 million customers at the end of March, making it one of the largest U.S. "mobile virtual network operators," or MVNOs. Rather than owning their own network, MVNOs buy wholesale airtime from other carriers.

However, Virgin Mobile expects to lose subscribers in the first quarter. It is talks with South Korea's SK Telecom Co., majority owner of Helio, another struggling MVNO. The talks could mean a combination of the two carriers.

Another prepaid carrier, Page Plus Cellular, charges $2.49 per day, or about $75 per month, for unlimited calling on Verizon Wireless' network but charges extra for roaming.

Regional carriers MetroPCS Communications Inc. and Leap Wireless International Inc. have unlimited plans for as little as $35 per month, but also charge extra for roaming.