Chip developer TeleCIS Wireless jumped out ahead of the Broadband Wireless World conference to be held later this week in Las Vegas with its introduction of Fixed WiMAX chip intended for self-installed customer premises equipment, including PC cards and USB devices that could be used in nomadic applications.

The TCW 1620 chip is based on the 802.16-2004 standard, but gives service providers the ability to reach customers that might not reach through traditional fixed access equipment that has to be plugged in or bolted to walls, the company said. TeleCIS CEO Sam Endy said in a statement, “Service providers, knowing now that appropriate WiMAX portable consumer products are coming soon, will have a very attractive business case, particularly in urban areas, for the deployment of WiMAX services.”

TeleCIS used multiple input/multiple output-based techniques, including diversity combining space-time coding on a single-chip design, to boost signal gain while keeping power consumption low, the vendor said. The company is at work developing its next chip, the TCW 2720,. which will integrate 802.16e capabilities, WiBro, Wi-Fi, MIMO and other smart antenna technologies.

"Beyond the technical achievement, which is impressive in and of itself, this is a significant development for WiMAX as portable broadband access is far more compelling from a consumer's perspective than a purely fixed solution," said Caroline Gabriel, research director for Rethink Research Associates in London. "Given the size of the laptop market and that of other portable devices, such as PDAs, the portable application could very well be the largest service supported by WiMAX 802.16-2004 standard networks."