WiMax
is the next generation of Wi-Fi systems. It is identified
within the IEEE as its 802.16 specification. Basically
WiMax is Wi-Fi for the masses. Whereas the 802.11
standard allows for high-speed data transfer within
a home or office, the 802.16 standard allows for high-speed
data access for entire communities from a single access
point.
The
Wi-Fi standard allows for 150-300 feet, but the WiMax
standard allows for access within a 3-5 mile radius
in metropolitan or uneven terrain. It also has a LOS
(Line-of-Sight) range close to 20 miles or more. It
also allows various 802.11 networks to pick up the
WiMax signal and then relay it within its smaller
Wi-Fi network. These ranges are very similar to the
footprints of cellular towers and thus helps close
the gap between the wireless world and mobility world.
If mobile handheld devices can be adapted to work
across WiMax networks, then high-bandwidth media would
be possible.
