Mobile WiMAX Baseband IC Teams With WiMAX/Wi-Fi Radio

Combined with the previously announced single-chip, multi-band WiMAX/Wi-Fi radio, the first mobile WiMAX baseband chip from Intel Corp. creates a complete chipset called the Intel WiMAX Connection 2300. The completion of the WiMAX Connection 2300 brings the company a step closer to an integrated wireless system-on-chip that will help drive WiMAX adoption by maximizing usable space in mobile devices. The chipset features global frequency support for standards-based Wi-Fi and WiMAX, scalable channel bandwidth, and high-performance multiple antennas. For the first time, Intel incorporated multiple-input/multiple-output (MIMO) functionality into the baseband chip to enhance the signal quality and throughput of wireless bandwidth.

The baseband chip also employs the same software for Intel's WiMAX and Wi-Fi solutions to help ensure unified management for connectivity. Over-the-air provisioning supports easy configuration and enables consumer activation of services, shifting the traditional hands-on service provider business model to a direct-activation one based purely on consumer purchases of mobile devices. In addition, the baseband chip has low power requirements for increased battery life and lower thermals to support smaller and thinner designs. With the initial Intel WiMAX Connection 2300 chipset design now complete, the company plans to focus on validating and testing the product.