WiMax starting to make its move

摘要

With phones and LANs steadily going wireless and consumer electronics not far behind, one part of the networked world -broadband to the home or business - has stubbornly remained wired in most cases. Cost, complexity and proprietary systems have held back wireless broadband services that would compete against DSL, cable modem and leased lines. But WiMax, an emerging standards-based set of technologies, could unify the fragmented industry and bring down prices, according to vendors and analysts. For customers, wireless can mean fast and easy setup, lower cost than some services, and broadband Internet access in places DSL has trouble reaching. "I called them on a Friday and it was installed on Tuesday," says Tamara Indianer, manager of a Waltham, Mass., branch of Lincoln Investment Planning. The branch had trouble getting synchronous DSL (SDSL) service after a move.