Nokia Corp., the world's leading mobile phone maker, announced Friday that it will join forces with the world's largest chip maker, Intel Corp., to provide handset users faster voice and data services, including high-speed broadband connections to the Internet.
The companies said the cooperation, using WiMAX technology for mobile clients, building network infrastructures and market development, will bring customers new services.
"For mobile devices and notebook platforms, Intel and Nokia will work closely to identify and deliver the unique power and performance requirements of the technology," Nokia said. "It will also create new opportunities for the consumer and enterprise markets."
The Finnish company was a founding member of WiMAX, a nonprofit corporation between leaders in the industry formed to promote and certify compatibility and interoperability of broadband wireless products. It decided to leave the organization in May 2004, but returned a month later.
"To have innovators like Nokia working to bring WiMAX and other broadband wireless technologies to the masses is very encouraging," said Sean Maloney, general manager of Intel's mobility group.
WiMAX, which stands for Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access, is a standards-based wireless technology that provides high-speed connections over long distances. It can be used for broadband connections, hotspots and high-speed enterprise connectivity for businesses.
If Nokia decides to integrate WiMAX into its mobile handsets in the future, it would be important for the future development of the forum, according to Julien Grivolas, an analyst at London-based Ovum, a technology research firm.
Dow Jones Newswires reported that Nokia expects to begin selling its first WiMAX devices in 2008, but not necessarily using Intel's chips. The cooperation means that engineers from the two companies will begin working together and that no money will be exchanged.
U.S. chipmaker Intel is based in Santa Clara, Calif.
Nokia, based in Espoo just outside the Finnish capital, has sales in 130 countries and about 55,500 employees.
