Clearwire has been given the FCC's stamp of approval for its laptop WiMAX card. The card, which will be available during the second half of this year, will enable laptop users to connect to Clearwire's WiMAX network via a standard Type II card. Clearwire will support Windows XP and Vista with the cards, which will be manufactured by Motorola.

Clearwire is based in Kirkland, WA and provides wireless broadband and VoIP services. It controls around 15 percent of the US 2.5GHz spectrum and claimed to have over 160,000 wireless broadband customers as of last September. The company currently offers WiMAX service with download speeds of up to 1.5Mbps in 37 markets across 12 states, which it says covers over 350 towns and cities. The company is also active in Belgium, Ireland, and Denmark.

The new laptop cards will give Clearwire subscribers "true" portability for the first time. "We expect the new laptop card to broaden our potential customer base with more opportunities for customers to access and experience our fast, simple, portable, reliable and affordable wireless broadband services," said Clearwire president and COO Perry Satterlee.

Intel has also announced plans to add WiMAX support to its upcoming Montevina platform. Slated to ship during the first half of 2008, Montevina will offer built-in WiMAX support along with 802.11b/g/n, all in the same piece of silicon.

After a number of fits and starts, it appears as though WiMAX is finally poised to become a significant player on the broadband scene. Sprint will begin rolling out its new WiMAX network in early 2008, starting with Chicago and Washington, DC, and hopes to reach 100 million potential customers by the end of 2008.