Google Invests $500 Million In Nationwide Broadband

A post on the Official Google Blog yesterday explains Google's investment into a consortium which includes contributions from other heavyweights like Comcast, Intel Capital, Time Warner Cable, Bright House Networks and Trilogy Equity Partners for a total investment of $3.2 billion. The group will build on "Clearwires' existing consumer WiMAX business with Sprint's broadband infrastructure and 2.5 GHz spectrum to create a new nationwide wireless broadband network." Larry Alder, Product Manager at Google writes "In particular, the network will: (1) expand advanced high speed wireless Internet access in the U.S., (2) allow consumers to utilize any lawful applications, content and devices without blocking, degrading or impairing Internet traffic and (3) engage in reasonable and competitively-neutral network management." Of course Google intends to support the initiative with technology as well as money and it is clear that the network will be a catalyst for android powered devices.

Intel promises WiMax embedded chips this summer

According to this CBC report, "Intel Corp. announced at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas that it will ship computer chips embedded with WiMax receivers beginning this summer." The announcement was met with optimism by broadband provider Rogers, "That's a very favourable sign for WiMax," said David Robinson, vice-president of new business planning for Rogers Wireless. The article goes on to say "the technology is expected to be able to deliver Internet speeds of about 15 megabits per second within three kilometres of a transmitter." This sounds very promising, I hope the Disney folks invest in a few transmitters... my blogging was stymied last week by a bad NIC card and no WiFi, at least at Coronado Springs!