ArrayComm now has a very powerful ally in its effort to promote its smart antenna technology in the new WiMAX standards. ArrayComm said this week that WiMAX Forum powerhouse Intel is collaborating with the next-generation antenna designer to include key components supporting smart antennas in the IEEE 802.16 standards.

Intel has plans to incorporate ArrayComm's antenna technology into its 802.16e CPE chipsets, in an effort to increase range, capacity and coverage. But if the two succeed in getting their requirements incorporated into the standard, smart antenna support will be automatically built into all future WiMAX gear, opening up a far greater market for ArrayComm and other smart antenna-makers' technologies.

ArrayComm is a dual vendor/technology company, building its own broadband wireless gear called iBurst, an IP-based mobile wireless system supplied to Kyocera and other vendors, and designing IntelliCell, a smart antenna baseband software that powers iBurst as well as numerous other vendors' broadband wireless and cellular radio systems.

Intel has been striking up numerous relationships with vendors to jointly develop WiMAX technology, but its collaboration with ArrayComm is unique as they are focusing on a specific aspect of the 802.16 standard instead of jointly developing interoperable base station and CPE products. Intel's partnership with Alcatel appears to be the farthest along. An Intel spokeswoman said the two expect to release the first prototype 802.16e modular base station based on Advanced Telecom Computing Architecture next year.