WiMAX was formed in April 2001, in preparation for the original 802.16 specification published in December of that year. According to the WiMAX forum, the group's aim is to promote and certify compatibility and interoperability of devices based on the 802.16 specification, and to develop such devices for the marketplace. Members of the organization include Airspan, Alvarion, Analog Devices, Aperto Networks, Ensemble Communications, Fujitsu, Intel, Nokia, OFDM Forum, Proxim, and Wi-LAN.

In May of 2008, Sprint and Clearwire announced that they would be combining their WiMax businesses, creating a new mobile broadband company. Intel, Google, Comcast, Time Warner Cable and Bright House Networks combined to invest $3.2 billion dollars in the venture. The announcement followed years of delays in Sprint's effort to roll out Xohm, a mobile WiMax network in the United States. Download speeds on Xohm are projected to be between 2 and 4 Mbps. WiMax service has also been rolled out in South Korea under the service name of "Wibro."

Read more about it:
>>	Paul DeBeasi writes more about what WiMax is and how it works at SearchMobileComputing.com.
>>	Jeffrey G. Andrews writes about WiMax in depth in his book, "Fundamentals of WiMax."
>>	The WiMAX Forum has more information about the organization and the 802.16 standards.
>>	SearchMobileComputing offers a Shoreline Weekly column called "Another wireless standard? Oh MAN!"
>>	The Inquirer explains the technology in their article, "WiMAX set to overshadow wi-fi."

Last updated on: May 07, 2008