Intel Capital, Intel's global investment organization, has invested US$43 million in Japan-based UQ Communications, a provider of WiMAX mobile services. UQ will utilize the funding to continue the nationwide expansion of UQ WiMAX service in Japan, with the commitment to provide WiMAX coverage to 90% of the country by 2012, according to Intel.
Scheduled to launch on July 1, UQ will offer new services to meet the diverse consumer demands for mobile Internet broadband use. Working closely with OEMs, Intel is providing embedded WiMAX laptops based on Intel Centrino 2 processor technology to enable mobile WiMAX broadband Internet access. The two companies will also work with PC vendors and MVNOs to deliver a range of initiatives and promotional activities driving the adoption of WiMAX technology and creating greater awareness for the global WiMAX ecosystem.
As part of this new initiative, UQ has unveiled a novel fee structure that will make it easy for new users to subscribe, Intel said. Meanwhile, Intel will offer the Intel WiMAX/Wi-Fi Link 5150, an embedded module supporting both wireless LAN and WiMAX, providing flexible Internet connectivity and high-speed communications with WiMAX. Toshiba, Panasonic and Onkyo have today unveiled notebook PCs which integrate the module and Intel Centrino 2 processor technology. The notebooks, as well as other products, are scheduled to debut next month in Japan.
Intel said it has worked closely with computing and communications manufacturers to embed WiMAX-enabled chipsets in devices, and has made significant capital investments worldwide to help service providers build and deploy networks as well as address spectrum and regulatory needs. To date, nearly 460 WiMAX networks have been deployed in 135 countries, according to Intel.
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