| To the layperson, the recent technological | | | | Because of the relatively low infrastructure costs |
| advancements in personal computing and mobile | | | | related to the WiMax style of broadcasted |
| Internet interfacing may seem like something that | | | | wireless Internet, Internet Service Providers will |
| is too good to be true. Hyper fast downloads, | | | | no longer have to factor in the huge costs |
| near infinite capacity, all accomplished without | | | | associated with maintenance and retrofitting wired |
| cumbersome wires and antiquated network | | | | Internet service systems. |
| systems sounds a lot like the flying cars and | | | | Fully Integrated Technology |
| moon bases that our parents and grandparents | | | | WiMax is the power behind the burgeoning 4G |
| were promised so long ago. And yet, here we are | | | | mobile wireless networks currently being phased in |
| at the dawn of the 21st century, and we already | | | | by cell phone services and Internet service |
| have the first generation of the technology we | | | | providers across the country. Through bundled |
| were promised. | | | | service packages, many providers are able to |
| But what is WiMax, exactly? That's a good | | | | offer television, phone, Internet and mobile |
| question. | | | | service all on one account for considerable |
| In short, WiMax is the future of broadband | | | | savings. The new technology even allows for |
| Internet. This technology allows the consumer to | | | | built-in GPS capability and utilization in any mobile |
| access the Internet at the fastest speeds ever | | | | device that is enabled for 4G access. |
| before experienced in the consumer electronics | | | | How It Works |
| market, facilitating efficient web surfing and | | | | Currently, most Wi-Fi and wireless Internet |
| lightening quick data transfer rates for | | | | services use traditional, "wired" broadband Internet |
| considerably less cost than previous generations | | | | infrastructures that then use localized wireless |
| of broadband Internet service, including cable and | | | | routers to generate limited hot spots that users |
| DSL. | | | | can log onto and surf the web through them. This |
| Never Chase Hot Spots Again | | | | system has severe drawbacks and limitations, |
| One of the greatest breakthroughs that WiMax | | | | including only being able to facilitate a few Internet |
| has achieved is that, though it is a wireless | | | | users per hot spot, the necessity of using wired |
| Internet service, the "hot spots" are broadcast | | | | Internet to provide the service at considerable |
| for miles out of centralized transmission centers | | | | limits of speed and data transfer speeds, and the |
| spread throughout major metropolitan areas, | | | | necessity of hundreds of WiFi access points for |
| allowing tens of thousands of Internet users to | | | | any kind of large, comprehensive Internet access |
| surf the web simultaneously with no lagging or | | | | network. |
| bandwidth hogging. This technology also paves the | | | | WiMax allows significantly longer ranges for its |
| way for future use by local municipalities and | | | | version of hot spots, taking what would only |
| state governments to construct low cost and | | | | reach half a block and extending the range |
| readily available Internet to entire cities under the | | | | several miles. This is accomplished by coupling the |
| auspices of a small department that can deliver | | | | Internet service with the 4G network, allowing |
| reliable service cheaply. | | | | web access just about anywhere that gets cell |
| Internet Access Cheaper Than Ever Before | | | | phone service. |