Cisco dropping WiMAX hardware development

Cisco Systems has said that it will stop creating WiMAX base stations and will instead focus on its Internet Protocol (IP) products that are used in both WiMAX and long term evolution (LTE) networks, according to IDG News Service.

Last year Cisco and Clearwire formed an alliance to help deliver Clearwire's CLEAR 4G mobile WiMAX services, and under the agreement Cisco was selected as Clearwire's core provider for IP networks. While Cisco will still provide IP infrastructure for WiMAX, it will no longer develop radios or other WiMAX products like base stations and modems.

Verizon Wireless, T-Mobile, and AT&T have all announced plans to follow the GSM backed LTE 4G path, instead of the fourth generation WiMAX network that Sprint is currently deploying. [via Computer World]