US : Frost & Sullivan will host a live web briefing on Thursday, 30 October 2008 at 15.00 GMT to provide industry participants with an overview on Mobile WiMAX and European Cellular Markets. All skepticism and hype associated with Mobile WiMAX is expected to be put to rest in 2008, with operators launching commercial services based on the technology.

Despite being termed "Mobile WiMAX", initial service launches will only provide fixed, nomadic and portable services rather than full mobility. The web briefing will discuss the implications of the service launch on existing HSPA deployments particularly in relation to the 3G LTE evolution vis a vis WiMAX.

Highlights of this briefing will include key challenges facing Mobile WiMAX pertaining to WiMAX Forum certification, backhaul and IPR issues, client device availability and affordability, spectrum auctioning; as well as key factors necessary in order for Mobile WiMAX to succeed over existing wireless broadband alternatives. This briefing will be beneficial mostly to the chipset manufacturers, Internet service providers, equipment manufacturers, terminal vendors, mobile operators, and also backhaul providers.

"Mobile WiMAX, in the initial phases, will primarily be used for data applications rather than for Mobile VoIP. As most of the initial client devices for Mobile WiMAX will not support cellular technology, it will be interesting to see if users will carry two pocketed devices - one for voice and the other for data," observes Luke Thomas, Progamme Manager for Frost & Sullivan's European ICT Research practice.