Cisco buying Navini for WiMax goodies

Cisco today said it has a definitive agreement to purchase Navini Networks, described as "a leader in the Mobile WiMAX 802.16e-2005 broadband wireless industry".

Cisco's announcement noted Navini's "Smart Beamforming" MIMO antenna technology as one of the reasons for the acquisition. Navini also brings to the table a portfolio of broadband wireless WiMAX solutions including base stations, adaptive antenna arrays, management systems, and subscriber modems, as well as a base of 75 customers.

Under the terms of the agreement, Cisco will pay approximately $330 million in cash and assumed options. The Navini acquisition is expected to close in the second quarter of Cisco's 2008 fiscal year. Upon the close of the acquisition, Cisco plans to integrate Navini into its Wireless Networking Business Unit, under the Ethernet and Wireless Technology Group.

D-Link tips WiMax, Europe 11n product plans

DigiTimes today said that D-Link has revealed its WiMax product strategy and plans for European rollout of draft 802.11n products.

The WiMax information is short on details, but includes plans for "network cards with different interfaces such as integrated wireless LAN, Bluetooth and WiMAX support".

The draft 802.11n report said that the company plans to "start marketing its low-priced 802.11n products, utilizing WLAN chips coming from Taiwan-based Ralink Technology, in the European market in the fourth quarter". D-Link's draft 11n U.S. products are based on Atheros' XSPAN chipset.

Clearwire announces High-Speed Wireless PC Card

Clearwire announced today the availability of its first Clearwire PC card in its markets across the U.S.

The card expands the company’s product portfolio to provide greater portability, requiring only the power provided by the customer’s notebook computer. Clearwire uses Motorola’s pre-WiMAX OFDM technology to provide up to 2.0 Mbps download / 256k upload speeds.

The card is currently available in all Clearwire markets via authorized local retailers and national partners, Best Buy and Circuit City. Customers can also purchase the card online at www.clearwire.com or by calling 1-888-CLEARWIRE. Service plans for the Clearwire pc card start at $59.99 a month with a pc card lease fee of $6.99 a month.

Intel demos its first mobile WiMAX chip

Intel has announced that it built its first WiMAX baseband chip for laptops. The WiMAX Connect 2300 chip, combined with a radio antenna, could be a long-range replacement for 802.11 Wi-Fi and cellular networks by providing multi-megabit speeds over several kilometers. Intel has also incorporated multiple antennas to increase speed and signal strength.

The chip was demonstrated in a prototype Intel Centrino Duo laptop with mobile WiMAX, Wi-Fi and HSDPA. Intel says the chip uses the same software for current WiMAX and Wi-Fi devices which certainly will ease headaches for laptop makers. The company also claims the chip has low power requirements.

Full story on TG Daily

Network-equipment makers eye mobile WiMAX products in 2007

A number of Taiwan-based network-equipment makers, including Gemtek Technology, Accton Technology and Zyxel Communications, are expected to begin commercial shipments, albeit in small volumes, of mobile WiMAX products in the first quarter of 2007, although many market sources indicated that a real takeoff of WiMAX applications isn't likely to come until 2008, according to market sources.

Full story on TG Daily

Accton and Alvarion join for WiMAX?

DigiTimes today reported that Taiwan-based network-equipment maker Accton Technology reportedly will set up a joint venture with Israel-based Alvarion to develop mobile WiMAX CPE products.

" According to market sources, the planned joint venture will have a registered capital of $4 million initially, with Accton holding a 70% stake in the new company.

Read the full story on DigiTimes.

D-Link announces WiMAX 802.16-2005 CPE router

D-Link today announced its entry into the WiMAX consumer premise quipment (CPE) market with an 802.16-2005 (formerly 802.16e)-compliant WiMAX router.

Full Story on TG Daily