US lags in WiMax adoption

Originally called WirelessMAN, WiMax (Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access) is the El Dorado of wireless data transmission, with versions of it providing both high-bandwidth point-to-point links and mobile cellular-type access, and is potentially a viable wireless alternative to cable and DSL, reports TMC Net.

In the last 12 months, several WiMax trials and actual commercial networks have been initiated worldwide for "last mile" broadband connectivity for both the consumer and enterprise segments.

Until now, however, America has lagged behind the rest of the world in terms of WiMax build-out and adoption.

For a concept that's remarkably easy to reduce to a sound bite, bridging the gap between cellular phones and enterprise networks ("fixed-mobile convergence" or FMC) remains stubbornly hard to implement, writes Network World.

The basic idea is a mobile device that can use either a WiFi or cellular connection, and automatically shift between them, to make or take calls, becoming an extension of the enterprise telephony and data networks. It's part of a trend toward the still ill-defined goal of unified communications.

Even with a flock of products designed for this purpose, from big established players and hard-charging start-ups, and even when pilot deployments are successful, enterprise IT executives refrain from taking the FMC plunge. And some of them are looking at either alternatives or interim steps to gain some of the benefits promised by FMC.

Truphone uses WiFi technology in an iPod Touch to allow users to make calls to other iPod Touch owners and Google Talk's messaging service users, says the BBC.

The software is a spin-off from technology Truphone developed for smartphones and iPhones. The developers plan to have the ability to make calls to and from landlines in place very soon.

Truphone is the latest firm to offer voice over Internet protocol, alongside Unlicensed Mobile Access and proprietary protocols such as Skype.