US WiMAX networks by 2006

Three major cell phone carriers are in the wireless broadband will have them up and running by 2006. The WiMax clique´ says that the mobile 802.16e hardware will be ready, willing, and able by 2006 or thereabouts.

In theory, WiMax would deliver higher speeds on various licensed bands (2.5GHz) within a city / regional footprint, but you wouldn´t have the happy-happy nationwide networks that you do with cellular networks. No doubt someone is working on "roaming" and no doubt it´s going to be as ugly as the current state of the union with Wi-Fi hotspots.

The downside is that consume is expected to shell out flat-rate cost of $80 a month for the service. It should be give a better user experience as it beats the hell out of trying to find a wireless hotspot in an airport.