WiMAX chip developer picoChip and antenna pioneer ArrayComm are two of the latest companies getting a jump on next week's WCA International Symposium and Business Expo, announcing this week that ArrayComm’s Network MIMO software will be incorporated into the PHY of picoChip’s flexible wireless solution.

Bath, England-based picoChip will offer this solution as a software option to its customers to add smart antennas and multiple input-multiple output (MIMO) technology to their WiMAX base station and subscriber station designs, the company said.

ArrayComm’s Network MIMO software implements all the antenna processing aspects of the WiMAX profiles approved by the WiMAX Forum Mobile Task Group (MTG) for IEEE 802.16e. The 802.16e standard itself was recently approved by the IEEE, and probably will not be certified by the WiMAX Forum until the end of this year or early next. ArrayComm, based in San Jose, Calif., site of next week's WCA event, supports MIMO, adaptive antenna systems (AAS) and combined MIMO/AAS modes on both subscriber terminals and basestations. These provide operators the optimized user data rates, cell range, and network capacity they need to meet their business objectives for mobile broadband services. MIMO and AAS, used in combination, increase subscriber data rates, improve cell-edge link budgets, manage interference, and maximize overall network capacity.

Commenting on the new agreement, picoChip’s CTO and Co-founder Doug Pulley said, “Adaptive antenna technology and MIMO are key distinguishing features of the WiMAX specification; they will be critical in assuring WiMAX success.”

Martin Cooper, ArrayComm's executive chairman added, “Future applications will need smart antenna technology to deliver the cost and performance advantages that WiMAX promises. This partnership is a significant step toward realizing our shared vision for the future of WiMAX technology."