What's Next?

The July, 2007 issue of BUSINESS 2.0 magazine is out and it carries a very interesting article on the next generation of Internet connectivity, called Wi-Max.

You may currently be connecting to the Internet via DSL or cable, or even with Wi-Fi (that is if you happen to be located within 300 feet of its transmitter), but with Wi-Max, just one tower will service a five square mile region.

The new service will be provided by Sprint-Nextel and it will "go live" later this year in three cities including Chicago, Washington, D.C., and Baltimore.

Among the benefits of Wi-Max is its speed. While DSL-based Wi-Fi usually transmits 2.5 megabits per second, Wi-Max can handle up to 5 Mbps. And the better Wi-Max can be used for voice, Internet, and video services, and multiple users won't slow it down as is the case with cable.

Of interest to investors is the fact that Sprint is working with heavyweights like Intel, Motorola, Nokia, and Samsung. And PC cards will be available when the new service launches, followed by gaming devices, laptops, cameras, and even phones with built-in Wi-Max by the end of 2008.

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