This would repeat a pattern that we’ve been seeing with DMB, the Korean mobile TV standard. Likely because of govt pressure, Samsung initially appeared to be backing the DMB standard exclusively. It has since become clear that the company is positioning itself to be a mobile TV leader in every flavour – DMB, DVB-H, FLO.

With its Wibro projects, Samsung seems to be securing a spot on the wireless broadband leaders’ board, although not necessarily with Wibro. Keep in mind that Wibro will not be compatible with ‘mobile wimax’ certified products when they come out (optimistically 4Q06 – probably 1h07), even though Wibro complies with 802.16-2005. In effect, it is just as proprietary as the ‘pre-mobile wimax’ projects, like the one Motorola is working on in Pakistan. (For an explanation of why they won’t be compatible, check Nortel’s site.)

Regardless, Sammie wins out in 2 big ways with its early Wibro efforts. First, the company gets a nice headstart manufacturing and deploying wireless broadband equipment in quantity. Second, the more succesful Wibro deployments it has, the more leverage Samsung will have to get its patents into the final ‘mobile wimax’ certified specs. Of course, that assumes that Intel, Moto, etc will consider the good of the cause ahead of their own patents.

http://oren.blogs.com/praxis/2006/07/congratstoom_.html