3G Response To WiMax: Anything You Can Do ... Cell Networks Advance Wireless carriers claim their third-generation services will hike speeds.(INTERNET & TECHNOLOGY)

Byline: MIKE ANGELL

The long-distance wireless technology known as WiMax has been described as "Wi-Fi on steroids."

Indeed, WiMax can send much more data much longer distances than Wi-Fi, a wildly popular short-range wireless standard.

But when it comes to competing with other wireless technologies, steroids may not be enough. WiMax will go up against new third-generation cellular services, known as 3G, which are already taking root.

Since WiMax is still more of a drawing-board concept than a product, it may struggle to beat out existing technologies. (See related stories, A5-A7.)

"I don't see WiMax displacing 3G at all," said Mike Thelander, who runs research firm Signals Research. "3G and WiMax have some overlaps, and WiMax may take a few 3G customers. But 3G won't lose many customers to WiMax."

Both WiMax and 3G do essentially the same thing: deliver high-speed broadband data over long distances. But wireless industry watchers don't think WiMax will be much of a competitive threat. Although WiMax claims faster data speeds, a mobile version of WiMax is still two years from even being available.