VNUnet's Robert Jaques looks today at a new report from research firm In-Stat entitled In-Depth Analysis: WiMAX and Cellular: Threat or Opportunity -- Cellular Carrier Strategies.

"The impact of WiMax on the mobile telephony industry could be profound, and carriers need to put together strategies concerning the wide area wireless technology now, industry experts urged today," Jaques writes. "In-Stat warned existing cellular carriers that WiMax may become a big competitor."

"WiMax faces many challenges, including multiple incompatibility standards, different frequency allocations in each country, and expensive consumer devices," says In-Stat analyst Allen Nogee. "But fixed-line WiMax is here, and mobile WiMAX will be arriving in the next few years."

"When WiMax competes with mobile telephony, cellular operators will be forced to lower their prices for wireless data services over existing mobile infrastructures," Jaques writes. "Even if WiMax fails after that point, it is unlikely that cellular carriers will ever again be able to charge the amount they currently do for wireless data services."

In-Stat's press release is here.