Eventually, the answer is yes. Initially, one can expect to see Wi-Fi services converged with cellular devices. This early foray will teach both the fixed and mobile wireless industries a great deal about technological co-existence. In the US, T-Mobile is already trialing a cellular/Wi-Fi fixed-mobile convergence handset in the Pacific Northwest. A number of other firms have such phones well in development or close to market. T-Mobile is using a Nokia handset. Reference designs for PC-Card form factor WiMAX cards are already in the marketplace from a number of different firms. The short answer is that WiMAX on your phone is just a matter of time. But it will take some time.

The long term vision for broadband wireless utilizing WiMAX is clearly one of multiple technologies that fill different niches in the service delivery universe. Clearly, mobile voice products are mature, well-realized, profitable and stable. The truly mobile variant of mobile WiMAX will likely be the most technically difficult to achieve and may never carry the bandwidth that linkages to faster fixed broadband can. But as products like VoIP gain acceptance, the ability to utilize a fixed network while stationary and eventually a truly mobile broadband network (with somewhat different capabilities) will drive WiMAX/Cellular/and other technology convergences to the handheld cell phone. In the long run, WiMAX and other wireless technologies offer unprecedented flexibility to consumers.