Intel, Qualcomm Ready To Fight Over Emerging WiMax Standard Intel, others back new format, which could eat into Qualcomm sales.(A)

Byline: REINHARDT KRAUSE

A battle is brewing between Intel and Qualcomm, and the future of the wireless phone industry could hang in the balance.

The two firms have starkly different visions. Intel, the world's No. 1 chipmaker, looks to build a market for a wireless broadband technology called WiMax -- a successor to the popular Wi-Fi standard.

Qualcomm, a pioneer of mobile phone electronics, looks to provide broadband via cell phone networks. And if WiMax spreads, it could supplant the need for Qualcomm's technology.

Qualcomm appears to have the edge, analysts said. But Intel's marketing muscle is hard to match.

"Intel is the godfather of WiMax," said Max Weise, an analyst at the consulting firm Adventis. "It'll be interesting to see how this battle plays out. At the moment, Qualcomm is probably better positioned."

The big question is whether WiMax will catch on with Internet users. The technology has its roots as a big brother to Wi-Fi, a wireless technology that lets laptop computer users connect to the Internet.