Nokia to do WiMax handsets in 2008

sometime in 2008, the firm said Wednesday. The world’s biggest producer of mobile phones revealed plans for the technology as it rolled out a WiMAX-enabled version of its lightweight base station.

While stationary computers can connect to WiMAX today, there will not be a mobile version available till later this year which gives Nokia more than twelve months to get the technology right.

WiMAX’ future was further bolstered by chip giant Intel which announced Wednesday that its so-called WiMAX system-on-a-chip, also known as “Rosedale 2” is now officially available.

Intel heads up a gang of technology/telecoms firms supporting WiMAX that include Nokia, Samsung and Motorola . All see WiMAX working alongside 3G networks of the future to provide a reliable wireless service for consumers.

Nokia said its WiMAX base stations will be available for broadband operators in the 2.5 gigahertz band at the end of 2007 and for 3.5 gigahertz in the first quarter of 2008.