Samsung has a number of Galaxy S II variants for different markets and now they’ve developed a WiMAX version as well. The Galaxy S II WiMAX (ISW11SC) will be released by KDDI au in Japan and is more or less similar to the Galaxy S II HD LTE. The phone will feature specs like 1.4GHz dual-core processor, Android 2.3 OS, 4.7-inch Super AMOLED HD Display (1280×720), 8MP and 2MP cameras, full HD recording support, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 3.0, GPS, microSD card slot, NFC support and 16GB internal memory.

The WiMAX version weighs 139g and has a talk time of up to 670 minutes.

Product Page

Samsung has announced that they’ll provide the equipment to Clearwire for the Mobile WiMAX network being launched in New York today. Clearwire is one of the biggest 4G mobile broadband service providers and they’ve been using Samsung’s equipment since the project’s inception.

Samsung gave its latest 4G base station that supports Mobile WiMAX (802.16e), WiMAX 2 (802.16m) as well as FDD-LTE and TD-LTE. Samsung says they also provided Clearwire with macro and pico base stations for uninterrupted service considering New York city’s ubran architecture.

Clearwire currently operates its service in 62 markets in the US and gives a download speed varying in between from 6-10Mbps.

We do know that Samsung is working to support the WiMAX 2 standard and now at the CEATEC in Japan, they’ll demonstrate the WiMAX 2 trial system with UQ Communications. The new mobile WiMAX standard is based on IEEE 802.16m that enables more faster, efficient data communication and is compatible with already deployed Mobile WiMAX solutions, which makes it easier for operators to migrate to next-gen WiMAX standard.

Samsung and UQ Communications are demonstrating full HD 3D videos and 16 full HD videos on 4 large-format displays at the same time using the WiMAX 2 trial system. The max speed achieved by WiMAX 2 is 330Mbps, making it much faster than the current release of Mobile WiMAX.

The WiMAX 2 standard is expected to be finalized by next month with first commercial solution scheduled in end of 2011.

We’ve got wind from our source that Samsung is developing a Mondi-like MID. It goes by the model number, SWD-V100 and will most likely take place of Mondi (SWD-M100). The only confirmed features we know for now is that it will have WiMAX and VoIP functionality.

[Thanks, Mak!]

Samsung continues to expand its mobile WiMAX footprint and has announced a new deal with Kazakhstan-based Alem Communications. In a bid to strengthen its foothold in Central Asia, Samsung will exclusively supply mobile WiMAX equipment to Alem Communications in Kazakhstan, one of Central Asia’s largest carrier.

Samsung currently provides its equipment to 27 Mobile WiMAX operators in 23 countries.

Samsung and some other big companies like Intel, Motorola, ZTE etc. have joined hands together to speed up development of WiMAX 2. They’ve formed WiMAX 2 Collaborative Initiative (WCI) that will work with WiMAX forum to accelerate the implementation of interoperable system profiles for WiMAX 2 equipment and devices.

The next-gen WiMAX is based on IEEE 802.16m standard that adds new features while maintaining backward compatibility. The WiMAX 2 is expected to be completed by second half of 2010 which will bring theoretical speeds of more than 300Mbps, lower latency and larger VoIP capacity.

We’re strongly committed to accelerating the development and commercialization of WiMAX 2 solutions based on the 802.16m standard as Samsung was the first in the world to commercialize WiMAX 1 solutions. We are confident that the WCI will rapidly expand the Mobile WiMAX market to provide mobile Internet to people in all corners of the globe.

Yota has handed an additional contract to Samsung to provide more Mobile WiMAX equipments for the deployment of a nationwide Mobile WiMAX network in Russia.

Samsung will supply more than 5,000 Mobile WiMAX macro cellular base stations and Access Control Routers (ACR) from March 2010.

Yota is planning to expand the Mobile WiMAX coverage to 15 cities by end of this year.

In other Mobile WiMAX related news, Samsung has announced that they’ll show a number of WiMAX-based products at the MWC next week ranging from base stations to mobile phones to MIDs.

Samsung has bagged yet another contract to supply Mobile WiMAX equipment. In an exclusive agreement with Dominican Republic’s Wind Telecom, Samsung will provide commercial Mobile WiMAX equipment like WiMAX base stations and USB dongles to the Caribbean-based mobile operator.

Wind Mobile is expecting to start the WiMAX service in Q3 2010 initially at two locations – Santo Domingo and Santiago.

Samsung is undoubtedly a dominant player in Mobile WiMAX and currently provides its equipment to 26 operators in 22 countries.

Samsung is a known face in the Mobile WiMAX industry and today they’ve announced to join hands with Japan-based UQ Communications and also join WiMAX Innovation Network.

For the Japanese WiMAX operator, Samsung will play the role of primary Mobile WiMAX equipment vendor that will allow them to deploy and optimize WiMAX network in Japan.

As for the WiMAX Innovation Network, Samsung is expected to be the technical assistant and provide interoperability test lab for approved developers in Malaysia.

At the ITU Telecom World conference in Geneva, Samsung confirmed to extend its support for the next-gen Mobile WiMAX Release 2 based on IEEE 802.16m. According to Samsung, IEEE 802.16m provides four times faster data speed and improved spectral efficiency as compared to the Mobile WiMAX Release 1 based on IEEE 802.16e standard. Furthermore, Mobile WiMAX Release 2 is backward compatible supporting Release 1 solutions.

Samsung will demonstrate backward compatibility and data throughput at the conference and plans to provide trial solutions to Yota in Russia, Clearwire in US and UQ Communications in Japan by late 2010.