Research and Markets: Getting WiMAX in the Hands of Subscribers. A Survey of Operators' Requirements for WiMAX User Devices Based On a 60-Question Survey Conducted By the WiMAX Forum That Elicited 74 Responses.

M2 PRESSWIRE-February 2, 2011-: Research and Markets: Getting WiMAX in the Hands of Subscribers. A Survey of Operators' Requirements for WiMAX User Devices Based On a 60-Question Survey Conducted By the WiMAX Forum That Elicited 74 Responses(C)1994-2011 M2 COMMUNICATIONS

RDATE:02022011

Dublin - Research and Markets

(http://www.researchandmarkets.com/research/ba89c5/getting_wimax_in_t) has announced the addition of the "Getting WiMAX in the Hands of Subscribers. A Survey of Operators' Requirements for WiMAX User Devices" report to their offering.

WiMAX operators are the first to build and deliver services over all-IP data-centric networks. They have the unprecedented opportunity to offer a new proposition to their subscribers, to introduce new services, and to build new business models. The selection of subscriber devices plays a central role in enabling operators to innovate the way mobile data services are marketed and consumed.

The report from Senza Fili Consulting analyzes the results of a 60-question survey conducted by the WiMAX Forum on the requirements and selection process of subscriber devices. Seventy four respondents participated in the survey. They represent greenfield and incumbent operators from Asia Pacific, Europe, Middle East and Africa, North America, and South America, using a variety of frequencies (700 MHz, 2.3 GHz, 2.5 GHz, 3.5 GHz) and of business models.

WiMAX operators' requirements and preferences for WiMAX mobile and desktop phones, mobile Internet devices (MIDs), USB dongles and desktop modems are discussed and summarized in 40 detailed charts that show the differences across regions.

The survey results show that WiMAX operators are carefully developing innovative device strategies. Their initial focus is on go-to-market basic devices that are reliable and have the features users want. Within the next year, operators expect to see a wider range of affordable, feature-packed mobile devices that will also support Wi-Fi and cellular interfaces.

Many of the requirements (e.g., for certification, multivendor interoperability, multiband support, and multiple form factors and applications supported) stem from the desire of WiMAX operators to move to a retail distribution model, in which subscribers buy their own devices and register them in the operator's network. Operators' responses reveal the underlying strategies they have developed to introduce a compelling business proposition for their subscribers.

The report provides detailed information to vendors who want to understand the operators' approach, and develop the chipsets and devices that meet their requirements. It also provides useful benchmarks for WiMAX operators as they refine their device strategy and assess that strategy in relation to what other operators are doing.

REPORT HIGHLIGHTS

How do WiMAX operators select subscriber devices?

- Find out what the WiMAX operators requirements and preferences are in the selection of devices

- Data from WiMAX Forum includes 74 responses to a 60-question survey

Who are the operators?

- Operator type: 71% greenfield, 29% incumbent

- Region: APAC (27%), Europe (28%), MEA (23%), North America (8%), South America (14%)

- Operator background: New entrants (20), fixed line operators (19), cellular operators (17), fixed-line ISP (22), wireless ISPs (31), virtual operators (6)

- Frequency: 700 MHz (2), 2.3 GHz (23), 2.5 GHz (31), 3.5 GHz (38), multiple bands (19)

Network status: Commercial (32%), commercial trials (9%), in deployment (18%), active planning (11%), technical trials (20%), investigating (5%)

The report addresses these questions:

- What are the devices that are most important to WiMAX operators?

- What is the timeline for market introduction and the expected sales volume?

- What are the most important factors in selecting a device?

- How much do operators expect to pay per device?

- What sales channels do operators plan to use to sign up customers?

- What are the requirements for WiMAX mobile phones in terms of form factors, features, screen size and resolution, battery life, and wireless interfaces?

- What are the requirements for WiMAX fixed phones in terms of features, screen type, size and resolutions, and battery time?

- What are the requirements for WiMAX MIDs in terms of features, screen type, size and resolution, and battery time?

- What features and battery backup time are required for WiMAX CPEs?

- What frequency bands should devices support?

- Is support for MIMO, beamforming, roaming, dynamic selection and handover across different bands required?

- With which vendors do device manufacturers have to interoperate? Is product certification required?

- What is the open source OS that WiMAX operators prefer? Is J2ME needed?

- Which network management features and VoIP codecs are required?

- Which applications do WiMAX operators expect their subscribers to run?

WiMAX TM operators poised to revolutionize their device distribution model Report reveals what requirements mobile device vendors must meet, how operators select both vendors and devices

WiMAX TM operators are clearly departing from the current cellular device model, according to a new report from Senza Fili Consulting. Operators are pushing vendors to provide powerful, interoperable, and affordable devices that give subscribers the freedom to choose the devices they want and the ability to effortlessly register them to any network.

"WiMAX operators are exerting substantial pressure on vendors to ensure that they have the devices they need, at the right price, supporting the applications and features that subscribers demand," said Monica Paolini, author of Getting WiMAX in the Hands of the Subscribers. A survey of operators' requirements for WIMAX user devices. "At the same time, operators are preparing their networks to host a wide range of mobile devices that support multiple wireless interfaces, frequencies and form factors."

Based on data from a recent WiMAX Forum survey, the report shows that operators are piecing together a wise, carefully planned device strategy that will enable them to offer core services at launch and expand the subscriber choice to a wide range of innovative services. To succeed, this retail model requires out-of-the-box interoperability

"The data collected in this survey clearly demonstrates the need for WiMAX Forum certification of subscriber devices," said XJ Wang, Sr. Director of Marketing at WiMAX Forum. "The interoperability benefit that the certification process provides allows operators to completely revolutionize their device distribution model from the outdated cellular model, to a new model for broadband wireless Internet."

The survey also revealed a great interest in roaming and multimode devices. In particular, WiMAX operators expect WiMAX devices to support complementary 2G/3G GSM and Wi-Fi interfaces.

"WiMAX operators need to ensure seamless service and a great user experience from day one," said Paolini. "WiMAX subscribers have high expectations, and initial data shows that they are heavy users. They expect all the reliability and coverage footprint of 2G/3G services, but with the speed and freedom that WiMAX brings to the table."

This report is based on a 60-question survey conducted by the WiMAX Forum that elicited 74 responses. Respondents include a cross-section of the largest and most active WiMAX operators globally, representing fixed and mobile operators, BWA service providers, MVNOs, and greenfield operators. The report analyzes the operators' requirements for vendor selection for desktop modems, mobile phones, fixed phones, and mobile internet devices (MIDs).

"This is the first time that anyone has achieved such a thorough survey of WiMAX operator attitudes," stated Wang. "The WiMAX Forum is excited at the strong participation received, and we plan to conduct further in-depth surveys such as this one in the future."

Key Topics Covered:

- Executive Summary

- Introduction: new technology, new devices?

- Methodology

- Participating operators

- Device types

- Marketing strategies

- WiMAX mobile phones

- Fixed phone

- WiMAX Mobile Internet Devices (MIDs)

- CPEs

- Network functionality and interoperability

- Software and applications

- Conclusions

- List of participating operators

- Acronyms and abbreviations

- List of figures

For more information visit http://www.researchandmarkets.com/research/ba89c5/getting_wimax_in_t

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