WiMax backers want to spread technology by limiting royalties

Oakland: Cisco Systems Inc., Intel Corp. and four other backers of the WiMax wireless internet standard said they want to help spread use of the technology by limiting possible patent royalties.

Cisco, Intel, Samsung Electronics Co., Alcatel Lucent SA, Sprint Nextel Corp. and Clearwire Corp. will pool patents needed to develop equipment used on the new networks, making it easier for potential suppliers, Sriram Viswanathan, general manager of Intel Capital, said on Friday during a conference call.

"It brings a mechanism to keep the royalty rates low," said Viswanathan. "It brings transparency."

Backers of the technology want makers of consumer electronics to build printers, music-file players, digital cameras and other gadgets that will connect to the internet using the new standard, executives on the call said.

Cost

The failure of existing mobile-phone technology to break into this area is due to the cost of licensing the patents, Viswanathan said.

Laptops and mobile phones using WiMax will be able to transmit data up to five times faster than today's technology.

Intel, the world's largest chipmaker, is investing in WiMax to create higher-speed connections that give consumers and business users a reason to upgrade their laptops.

Other backers of the technology include Comcast Corp., Time Warner Cable Inc. and Google Inc., which invested in a joint venture with Clearwire and Sprint.

In May, Sprint and Clearwire said they will combine their high-speed wireless business to create a nationwide US network.