Nokia announced today that its Networks business group has completed a data call as part of its WiMAX (802.16e) development program.

The error free call was made between computing and baseband modules at Nokia's research and development facility in Germany according to Nokia's WiMAX development timetable, and was conducted on a high-speed pre-product test platform. Nokia will be expanding to WiMAX trials during 2006.

"This is an important step in our WiMAX development work, and we are very encouraged by the results," said Markku Hollstrom, General Manager, Broadband Wireless business program, Networks, Nokia.

The WiMAX e-version will offer nomadic and portable mobility, providing fast data connections for consumers and business users. Nokia sees the WiMAX e-version as a complement to 3GPP technology, or deployed as a stand-alone data network.

Nokia is a member of the WiMAX forum, an industry-led non-profit corporation formed to promote and certify the compatibility and interoperability of broadband wireless products. WiMAX, which stands for Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access, is a standards-based wireless technology that provides high-throughput broadband connections over long distances. WiMAX can be used for a number of applications, including "last mile" broadband connections, hotspots and high-speed enterprise connectivity for business. The WiMAX IEEE 802.16e version is expected to be standardized later this year.

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