"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!

The developments dampen hopes for a near term convergence of WiMAX and LTE into a single mobile broadband standard for the run-up to 4G, although the Alliance did indicate, when it made its LTE selection earlier this month, that it would assess WiMAX again in its next iteration, 802.16m. This suggests strongly that WiMAX and LTE could remain separate for the current generation and then come more closely together at the 16m/LTE 2 stage, in a few years' time, assuming that both technologies have strong market positions by then.

Xohm's lead evangelist Barry West came under some fire at Centrino 2's launch event when he continued to supply a vague launch date for Xohm--some time between September 1 and September 30, he said. One publication called the remark a poor attempt at humor.

FierceBroadbandWireless editor Lynnette Luna wonders where all the WiMAX devices are--Nokia's N810 has yet to get the Forum's seal of approval and ZTE has yet to get its products approved either. While Clearwire had previously announced support for these devices, West made it clear in the past that certification of devices will not hold up the launch.

ALSO: Have you submitted your company for a WiMAX World Award? The only reason not to is if you think it's undeserved. Check out all the details we supplied in last week's newsletter here and get those nominations in by August 8! There will be no extensions this year--so don't delay!

Despite the frustration of delays - which, if prolonged, threaten to allow LTE into the market - India remains WiMAX' biggest single hope for revenue and global influence. Most of the major operators and many small ones are already building out 802.16e in 3.3GHz for wireless DSL,enterprise and nomadic data services, with Tata, BSNL and Bharti among the players. The leading cellcos are likely to snap up the 3G licenses and some of the mobile broadband franchises, but these will be fully technology neutral and Tata, Bharti and Reliance have all expressed interest in using WiMAX as their primary '4G' system. Research by Rethink into operator spending intentions for mobile broadband indicate that, after 2010 (assuming the auctions go ahead by the end of this year), India will show the highest annual growth in WiMAX investment of any country in 2010 and 2011, and at that point will be the leading nation in terms of WiMAX roll-out. On the subscriber side, another report, this one from Springboard Research, estimates that India will be the largest market in the Asia-Pacific region by 2012, accounting for over 35% of service revenues across the area, and boasting 15.8m subscribers.