Best of WiMAX World 2006

xchange Sponsors Awards Recognizing WiMAX Innovation

xchange is pleased to announce the Best of WiMAX World Awards, which recognize leaders in the development and deployment of WiMAX technologies. xchange was tapped by Trendsmedia Inc., producer of WiMAX World USA Conference & Expo, to sponsor and administer the awards program. Nominations were open to exhibitors and sponsors of the conference, held Oct. 8-12 in Boston. More than 40 nominations were received between Aug. 21 and Sept. 15.

The winners were selected by an independent judging panel (see below) and announced during the WiMAX World Conference by Eliot Weinman, conference co-chair and president of Trendsmedia.

“I am pleased to announce the 2006 WiMAX World Award Winners,” Weinman said. “The awards were chosen based on a careful evaluation and analysis by a group of six independent WiMAX thought leaders. On behalf of WiMAX World and xchange magazine, we congratulate each of the winners.”

xchange Group Publisher Mike Saxby thanked the nominees and the judges for their participation in the awards program. “Given the terrific response during the nomination process as well as the caliber of the members of the selection committee, all of the winners should be proud to be recognized as leaders in the WiMAX community, he said.

INDUSTRY INNOVATION

This category includes leading-edge WiMAX technology, microelectronics, hardware, software or services that have the potential to transform the mobile and personal broadband industries. Entries were judged based on the unique technology, its impact on the market and globe, and its benefit to service providers and end users.

SYSTEM DESIGN

(From left to right) Suzy Kelley, Account Executive, xchange, with Adaptix’s Jonathan Down, Systems Engineer; Nick Thomas, Vice President of Worldwide Sales and Services; Lori Hicks, Director of Marketing Communications; and Byron Young, Vice President of Marketing and Product Management

This includes box-level systems using WiMAX technology that included approaches/methods above and beyond standardized minimums that enhance the total value of a WiMAX system. Nominees were judged based on general concept, application, feature set, benefits and standards compliance.

CHIP DESIGN

Comsys’ Marketing Communications Manager Ronnie Siman-Tov (left) and 4G Product Manager Ehud Reshef (right)

This category includes 802.16-2004 (.16d) and 802.16e base station and terminal chips and chip sets, including PHY and/or MAC or higher-level solutions. Entries were based on novelty, completeness, silicon availability, power consumption and available options.

Winner: Comsys Ltd.’s ComMAX

Comsys is the only company tying 3G cellular to WiMAX through both silicon and software IP.

Runner-Up: PicoChip Designs Ltd.’s PC202

PicoChip has fielded more WiMAX base stations than anyone else and provides a clear path from 802.16d to 802.16e on the same silicon.

COMMERCIAL APPLICATION — EQUIPMENT VENDOR

xchange Account Executive Suzy Kelley with Alvarion’s Claudia Gatlin (center), Investor Relations, and Dafna Gruber (right), Chief Financial Officer

This category includes behavior and characteristics of broadband wireless or WiMAX equipment operating in the field. Entries were judged based on throughput, coverage, ease of use and installation, price and migration path. Equipment vendors and operators were evaluated separately.

Winner: Alvarion Ltd.’s BreezeMAX Si

Alvarion has the largest number of CPE and base stations deployed in the field worldwide. Its radio is known to be robust and competitive, and Alvarion also has a smooth path to certification.

Runner-Up: VCom Inc.’s VistaMAX

VCom has a strong presence in NorthAmerica and a clear path toward certifying radios in 2007.

COMMERCIAL DEPLOYMENT — SERVICE PROVIDER

This category includes behavior and characteristics of broadband wireless or WiMAX equipment operating in the field. Entries were judged based on throughput, coverage, ease of use and installation, price and migration path. Equipment vendors and operators were evaluated separately.

Winner: WiMAX Telecom AG

WiMAX Telecom demonstrates leadership in establishing a transnational network in Europe and an ambitious expansion plan and market presence.

Runner-Up: TowerStream Corp.

TowerStream has long experience in the field. It is a profitable company with a clear strategy targeting business customers with T1-like service, and a pioneer in the introduction of wireless VoIP.

DEVICE/PERIPHERAL/APPLICATION SOFTWARE

(From left to right) Hans Tan, Senior Product Manager, ZyXEL; xchange’s Suzy Kelley; and ZyXEL’s Munira Brooks, Senior Vice President of Sales and Marketing and Strategic Accounts Development; and Pauline Nguyen, Director of Key Account Sales, Western Region

This category includes any WiMAX-based device, fixed or mobile (not a base station or point-to-point/point-to-multipoint link) or systems software for a WiMAX product or installation. Nominations were judged based on concept, application, features and benefits.

Winner: ZyXEL Communications Corp.’s MAX-100/200 Mobile WiMAX CPE

The ZyXEL MAX-100 appears to be the first of its kind — a genuine 802.16e-2005 client adapter with loads of features. ZyXEL’s PC Card is a huge step forward for the WiMAX industry, bringing convenience and ease-of-use to mobile WiMAX users and their applications.

Runner-Up: Redline Communications’ RedMAX Management Suite

Redline’s RedMAX Management Suite gives operators the ability to deploy, control, monitor and upgrade their Redline components network-wide through an intuitive, user-friendly GUI.

Best of WiMAX World Awards Selection Committee

Berge Ayvazian, Chief Strategy Officer, Yankee Group Ayvazian oversees Yankee Group’s research, consulting and events in the mobile, telecom, IT, applications, media and entertainment industries worldwide. www.yankeegroup.com
Adlane Fellah, CEO and Founder, Maravedis Inc. Fellah is a leading industry analyst covering broadband wireless technologies, including WiMAX/802.16, 802.20, EV-DO, WCDMA TD-CDMA, HSDPA and wireless local loop systems. www.maravedis-bwa.com
Carolyn Gabriel, Research Director, Rethink Research Associates Gabriel co-founded Rethink in 2002 to provide market research and consulting in the broadband wireless, 3G, fixed/mobile convergence and wireline broadband markets. www.rethinkresearch.biz
Craig Mathias, Principal, Farpoint Group Mathias is an expert in wireless communications and mobile computing. Farpoint Group provides technology assessment, analysis and integration; product specification, design and marketing; strategy development; program management; and education and training. www.farpointgroup.com
Mike Saxby, Group Publisher, xchange Saxby is a group publisher at xchange magazine. He has led the publication’s multimedia strategy and its support for the WiMAX World USA Conference & Expo, including development of the Best of WiMAX World Awards program. www.xchangemag.com
Will Strauss, Principal Analyst, Forward Concepts Strauss is a leading analyst on digital signal processing market trends and an authority on semiconductor trends in wireless, audio and VoIP markets. www.fwdconcepts.com
Eliot Weinman, President, Trendsmedia — Yankee Group Events & Publishing Division An industry thought leader, Weinman has founded and sold four integrated media companies serving high-tech markets. His fourth startup, Trendsmedia, producer of the WiMAX World Conference & Expo, was acquired by Yankee Group in September 2006. www.trendsmedia.com
Charles Wu, Principal, CWLab Wu is founder and principal at CWLab, which was formed in 1999 to help companies succeed in the widearea broadband wireless networking arena by creating standard definitions for product performance as well as testing procedures for evaluating and comparing products. www.cwlab.com

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