Intel Corp. and Nokia announced plans to cooperate in acceleration of WiMAX deployment, which will include development of both client and network devices. Particularly, Nokia may develop cell phones or similar gadgets as well as create network equipment using chips from Intel.

“Nokia’s end-to-end multiradio strategy covers many wireless technologies optimized for uses from local connectivity and fast data transport, to broadcasting technologies and full mobility of voice and data. WiMAX will be an important technology complementing 3GPP and 3GPP2 technologies. It will also create new opportunities for the consumer and enterprise markets,” said Tero Ojanpera, Senior Vice President and Chief Strategy Officer, Nokia.

The companies will collaborate on several areas in support of mobile WiMAX technology (IEEE 802.16e) including mobile clients, network infrastructure, industry-enabling efforts and market development. For mobile devices and notebook platforms, Intel and Nokia will work closely to identify and deliver the unique power and performance requirements of the technology, and will work on base station strategies to help deploy a WiMAX network infrastructure that will provide adequate and reliable coverage.

In addition, the companies will engage in market development efforts to demonstrate to service providers and the industry how WiMAX can enhance data service capabilities of the network while complementing existing 3G networks. Lastly, Nokia and Intel will work together to ensure successful finalization of the 802.16e standard in IEEE and related specification work in the WiMAX Forum.

Various versions of WiMAX allow devices to connect to a network at speeds of up to 70Mb/s in the range of 31 miles around the “access point”. 3G is next-generation implementation of cellular phone technology, such as GSM, that allows to connect to the Internet at the speeds of up to 2Mb/s (depending on the situation and network settings).

The first mass breed of commercial WiMAX networks is expected to come online sometime in 2006, even though there are a number of deployments even now. Also in 2006 or 2007 Intel is expected to enable Intel Centrino-branded notebooks with WiMAX and/or 3G connectivity.