Press & PR

New wireless broadband technology WiMax will add to the options available to UK consumers, but not dominate the market, it has been suggested.

According to the editor of thinkbroadband.com, Andrew Ferguson, problems with WiMax at the moment are that it can only be received in a limited area and few users have compatible equipment.

"[The] lack of built-in WiMax standard kit in laptops and other devices is probably holding things back," he said.

"Look at Wi-Fi, it has taken some years to become widely available and used - I suspect [WiMax] will co-exist rather than dominate."

The advantage of WiMax over Wi-Fi is that it has the potential to cover a much wider area - three miles or more away from the hub, compared to just 100 ft for the current standard wireless connections.

But as the service grows in popularity, it may allow Britons to access broadband in areas they were not able to previously.

This could mean that ramblers walking in the Lake District can keep in contact with the family back home over broadband with Vonage'sV-Plan 1 - which covers the UK and Ireland for £5.99 a month.