July 22, 2008: Sprint out of NGMN; Intel's WiMAX strategy

This past week's biggest departure was that of Sprint Nextel from the Next Generation Mobile Networks group, after the group made it clear they favored LTE over WiMAX. The departure sent waves through the industry and created enough ruckus to supply industry trade journals and bloggers with a number of articles and posts. Perhaps more incendiary, however, is the continuing speculation that Intel may slowly withdraw itself from the helm of the WiMAX movement. Longtime industry pundit and analyst Andy Seybold is the latest high profile columnist to suggest that Intel is making moves to slowly extricate itself from the position of WiMAX flag-bearer.

"Over the past several weeks, I have written a number of articles speculating about Intel's intention to exit the WiMAX space and cited its first volley when its VP of marketing suggested that WiMAX and LTE should become one and the same," Seybold wrote in a recent blog post. Newswireless.net's Guy Kewney gives Seybold credit for stating directly what many have whispered recently.

We wonder, however, if Seybold is missing the point here--"backing out of WiMAX" is strong language. Seybold contends in this earlier article that Intel's plan is probably to switch to LTE/WiMAX chipsets--hardly a backing out. What do you think--Is Intel backing out of WiMAX? Changing its priorities? Or is this just business as usual?

WiMAX Trends' columnist Caroline Gabriel seized on Intel's slow pivot a few week's back in a column that certainly got a few of our readers' attentions--revisit her analysis here.

ALSO: Others in the industry are whispering about the WiMAX World Awards. Have you submitted your company for one yet? Check out all the details here and get those nominations in by August 8! There will be no extensions this year--so don't delay!