ZDNet, 24 May 2006
The next-generation wireless technology could take us one step closer to the mobile nirvana of one bill for mobile, Wi-Fi and broadband connectivity
What is WiMax?
Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access, since you ask. It's overseen by The WiMax Forum, an alliance of more than 400 companies working towards compatibility under the IEEE 802.16 standard. It's a bit like Wi-Fi (a.k.a. 802.11), but, for one thing, the range is calculated in kilometres (theoretically about 50) rather than metres. It's also far more reliable than Wi-Fi, especially when using applications such as VoIP that require high bandwidth and consistent quality of service (QoS).