Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd. at CES demonstrated a phone, the Samsung M8000, that operates over a WiBro network. Samsung characterized the phone as “one of its world's first Mobile WiMAX phones.”
WiBro is a Korean wireless broadband standard service based on the IEEE 802.16e TDD OFDMA technology, sometimes called “mobile WiMAX,” that provides a wireless broadband service able to deliver multimedia communication to handsets moving at speeds of up to 120 km per hour (about 80 mph).
One of the applications expected for 802.16e and other developing WiMAX technologies is truly mobile VoIP.
Mobile WiMAX is expected to be used to deliver broadband services to rural and suburban locations not accessible by wired technology as well as creating broadband "hot zones" in more densely populated areas. WiMAX also is capable of delivering access and transport convenience and cost savings through wireless backhaul.
The M8000, a smart phone equipped with a QWERTY keypad, showcases WiBro services available in the Korean market through a series of applications including broadcasting, home networking, video conferencing, video on demand, mobile navigation and what Samsung calls “push-to-all” (push-to-talk/data/video).
Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd. www.samsung.com
