I think this is a load of krap.
Does anyone know how well VoIP (or Skype) would work on WiMAX? If something like Skype works well, then voice quality would be even better than GSM.
Collins didn’t label WiMax a loser but said it will get off the ground slowly because it’s an underdog when it comes to carrying voice calls. Emerging WCDMA and EVDO technologies have closer ties to the cellular world and will be better equipped to handle calls over the next few years, Collins believes, so most users will hang onto them.
Yeah, I was similarly puzzled when I first saw this. There’s no reason VoIP won’t work just fine over WiMAX, so long as there’s sufficient bandwidth. Indeed, VoIP is how WiMAX operators will offer voice services.
There are plenty of reasons why WiMAX won’t be an instant success, but this is a pretty sketchy one.
Hey Charlie,
strong words 🙂 The author didn’t go into the details concerning voice calls over WiMAX and why that would slow down WiMAX uptake. So here’s what I think about it: The Industry has been working on IMS and the main application of it, VoIP over Wireless, for several years know. However, I don’t see any mobiles and any infrastructure yet that would support voice over IP in 3G networks in a similar way and with a similar QoS as GSM and UMTS does today over circuit switched channels. I am not talking about stationary users with notebooks, that’s not an issue anymore with Skype, etc. I am talking about using small mobile handsets and keeping that call up while the user roams and frequently changes cells (aka handover). Also, even deployments of 3G networks today are nowhere near the nationwide GSM deployments, so frequent fallback to GSM is the norm rather than the exception for calls started on a UMTS network. So if you look on the WiMAX side of things, they don’t have this convenient fallback for voice to GSM so that’s a definite disadvantage. Also, I haven’t seen a WiMAX handset yet. So all of this will take some time and I just don’t see a WiMAX mobile phone working anywhere as well in the next couple of years for voice than current 3G and 3.5G handsets do at the moment. So for me, WiMAX in the next couple of years is very interesting for home substitution of DSL or cable and for use in WiMAX equiped notebooks on the go. For WiMAX mobile voice, however, I am a bit skeptical about for the near future.
Cheers,
Martin
Carlo,
Howdy!
Totally agree: I can’t beleive that they would design WiMAX to not work with VoIP.
Tchau,
Charlie
Martin,
Ahoy!
Yeah, roaming the various networks will be a nice thing to have, but, looking back at roaming in general (it still sucks) I wouldn’t count on it UMA or not.
But, all because WiMAX isn’t like GSM in coverage, you shouldn’t count it out. I’ve been doing some research lately and, in short, I think any sort of WiFi or WiMAX kinda of ‘free’ access will rearrange the whole ecology of mobile use of Internet and such.
Tchau,
Charlie