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WiMAX "is here and working today" - koolaid drinker

It is, obviously, in Intel's interest to promote the idea that WiMAX is some kind of fourth-generation technology. It's an idea which you'd think Andy Seybold has completely exposed as cobblers. So where did blogger Marguerite Reardon find this:

"It's clear that AT&T is nervous about the new Clearwire's plans," she wrote. Her argument points out that AT&T is challenging Clearwire through the regulator, the FCC - something which is too obvious a tactic, surely, to require explaining. The blog continues: 

AT&T is currently still deploying 3G technology throughout its territory and is busy upgrading its existing network. But it is years away from taking the next big leap toward building a 4G network, which will use a competing technology known as Long Term Evolution, or LTE. By contrast, WiMax technology is available and working today. And regardless of the outcome of the merger, Sprint expects to launch its first WiMax deployments in September. What's more, devices supporting WiMax have already been developed and will hit the market by year's end

Technically, the mobile WiMAX that is "working today" is WiBro, a Korean version, which may or may not prove to be ultimately compatible with future mobile WiMAX devices.

But the real question is whether existing 3G devices will be compatible with LTE, or with WiMAX. Those who missed Seybold's analysis might like to check his thoughts:

Sean Maloney, Executive Vice President, General Manager for Sales and Marketing, [says] that LTE and WiMAX should be combined into a common 4G standard.

Maloney makes a couple of statements that need to be addressed. The first is that WiMAX and LTE are 80 percent the same but WiMAX is a few years ahead of LTE, and the second is that customers will be confused by competing 4G technologies. Read his complete piece here, and his follow up here, and see whether you think someone has been foxed...