There’s several instances in history of two competing technologies arriving at more or less the same time, and only one of them surviving in the long-term. The most famous example is, of course, VHS vs Betamax. Betamax arguably had the better picture quality, but VHS won the battle (at least, it did in the home video market… in TV studios and for production purposes, Betamax became Beta SP, the industry standard for broadcast quality video… until digital took over, of course)…
According to IntoMobile, a modern version of that battle’s being replayed, and it looks like we may have a winner…
I’m talking about WiMAX vs LTE (Long Term Evolution, or 4G to give its more commonly known name), the battle to set up the wireless data standard for the masses. Think of WiMAX as kinda like the evolution of WiFi, but working over vastly bigger distances. Compare that to LTE, which is the logical next step up from HSDPA and 3G (that just about all major mobile phones have now), which is why it’s known as 4G. For a while, it seemed that WiMAX was the future, that it would revolutionise communications, until some bright spark presumably put the fly in the ointment, saying that LTE is merely an evolution of existing networks, won’t need massive amounts of new kit adding to exchanges and whatnot, and is therefore, considerably cheaper and more likely to be picked up as the industry standard wireless data solution.
Ah. Score one for LTE, methinks.
The final nail in the coffin for WiMAX may well be Nokia’s decision to stop supporting it. In fact, in their own words, they compare it directly to Betamax, and go on to say it’s an idea that failed. Is that true? Is WiMAX doomed to be beaten by LTE?
Well, the industry does love standardisation. And it’s not just Nokia who have pulled out, so has chip manufacturer Qualcomm.
Looks to me like it’s going to be a case of WiMAX is dead, long live the LTE…
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May 19th, 2009 at 2:36 pm
The day WiMax is doomed is the day wireless routers start using it. Until then WiMax still has the advantage for home use. Not to mention people actually understand wifi, HSDPA and 3g people still look at you quizically like you’re speaking swahili.
LTE has the mobile advantage, but i’d put large quantities of cash (if i had it) on virtually NO-ONE having any form of 3G or HSDPA router in their house.