Siemens' Gigaset SE68 WiMAX ExpressCard arrives before the network

Talk about putting the cart before the horse. Without a bona fide WiMAX network for mass consumer use up and running yet here in America, Siemens is making sure you're really ready for its onset by announcing its first WiMAX ExpressCard. The Gigaset SE68 WiMAX is based on the IEEE 802.16-2005 standard and complies with Wave 2 specifications (including MIMO A / B), supports beamforming and has actually been demonstrated as functional way over in Singapore. With a network in place, users can expect mobile broadband speeds of up to 20Mbps, and while no price is given, you can just circle the entire summer of 2008 in anticipation of its arrival.

[idiot @ Apr 9th 2008 1:31AM]

seriously where's the expresscard/54 love?

[Michael LaFramboise @ Apr 9th 2008 2:20AM]

progress ftw

[Ubuntu 7.10 WindowsXP @ Apr 9th 2008 1:55AM]

Seriously, where is the Network? Why would I buy a product for a system, that hasn't been built yet?

[Reader @ Apr 9th 2008 2:27AM]

You get all the cons of being an early adopter without any of the benefits! Sounds like a deal to me.

[Adam Zey @ Apr 9th 2008 12:40PM]

I don't get comments like yours. Bell Canada and Rogers deployed a nation-wide WiMax network named Inukshuk two years ago. It's not very impressive.

So, WiMax has been widely deployed in North America for years, and yet people still seem to think that it's an up and coming thing. No, WiMax came, generated little interested, and faded as it was no longer worthy of our attention.

[Deputy Doffoos @ Apr 9th 2008 8:56PM]

I don't know you bitches, but I'm using right now my 6Mbps Wimax connection here

[Jeremy S @ Apr 9th 2008 1:58AM]

And the prize goes to.....

SIEMENS!!!

[gabe @ Apr 9th 2008 2:20AM]

This will go well with my Deed to some land i own on the Moon :)

[James @ Apr 9th 2008 2:37AM]

Soooo.... are we ignoring BridgeMAXX's WiMAX network that currently serves several cities in Idaho, Indiana, Montana and Virgina? Or are they too small to be considered a network for "mass consumer use"?

[Chebwa @ Apr 9th 2008 2:57AM]

Montana? Is that a country?

[thehumanyawn @ Apr 10th 2008 1:38PM]

Yes James, they are too small for mass consumer use because they provide coverage in several cities in ONLY FOUR FRICKIN STATES! OUT OF FIFTY! How in the hell is an Idaho network going to help me in Oregon? It will take a rollout with a hell of a lot more states and more coverage before it is "for mass consumers". Don't be a frickin idiot.

And Adam Zey, there are THREE countries in North America. If there was a bigger system in the US or Mexico, 2/3, then I would consider it "widely deployed". I'm sure that the comment about the system "not being built yet" was referring to America, because a Canadian system doesn't help someone in the states unless they frequently go up to Canada. Don't be frickin stupid either.

[nghtdvl @ Apr 9th 2008 2:38AM]

We have a WiMax network here in Canada with Bell Canada - the coverage isn't fabulous, but it still spans 124 cities... good enough for me. Thanks Siemens!

[Dave @ Apr 9th 2008 2:49AM]

They have the same problem with fuel cell cars. No one will buy cars unless someone is selling fuel. And no one will sell fuel unless there are cars.

[Hibiki Rush @ Apr 9th 2008 3:04AM]

What is the price on this? I'm looking for an adapter card as I have WiMAX at work but not sure of the going prices on these.

[undersaur @ Apr 9th 2008 3:07AM]

I wonder how they tested it.

[Billy Fiul @ Apr 9th 2008 3:39AM]

You wouldn't had you read the article.

[eseiber @ Apr 9th 2008 8:01AM]

We have Nortel wimax here in testing with a full launch in less than a month and I am in Illinois so if this works with that.....

[brokenkeyboard @ Apr 9th 2008 8:17AM]

beamforming?

how does I form beam? `\o_0/`



seriously though, for some reason I hadn't heard about beamforming before. sounds neat.

[PeteDinNYC @ Apr 9th 2008 9:01AM]

Clearwire? Not nationwide, but it is in a decent number of cities. If you don't travel or have a business that needs mobile broadband and don't want to pay crazy wireless carrier prices, this would do the trick.

[Nando @ Apr 9th 2008 8:56PM]

Can you make a device made for 802.16e-2005 work with a 802.16-2004 network?

[Shaun @ Apr 10th 2008 8:56PM]

As someone who has first hand used Clearwire's WiMax service -- I'm not impressed. I could browse via my Sprint EVDO faster...and cheaper!