Samsung Electronics recently unveiled its m8000 smartphone that runs Windows operating system and is designed to work in high-speed networks: CDMA EVDO as well as WiBro, a flavour of WiMAX developed for South Korea.

The Samsung m8000 handset looks similar to the i730 designed for the U.S. market that has 2.8” QVGA (240x320) 65 000 color touch screen, supports wireless LAN (WLAN), Bluetooth and is designed for CDMA EVDO networks, which are currently offered by Verizon Wireless. However, the m8000 features additional camera for video-calls and video-conferencing and can also support wireless broadband technology WiBro, which is expected to go live in 2006.

Pricing of the phone is unknown, reports msmobiles.com web-site.

Samsung m3000

Using WiBro networks clients will be able to download data at up to 3Mb/s, upload at up to 1Mb/s in the range of 1-5 kilometers around the base station. The implementation in Korea is based on 802.16-2004 and 802.16e Draft3 or later version that provides channel link of more than 9MHz and at least 512Kb/s downlink and 128Kb/s uplink at 60Km/h speed.

While WiBro is not exactly WiMAX, in November 2004, Intel and LG Electronics executives reportedly agreed to ensure compatibility between WiBro and WiMAX technologies.

Various versions of WiMAX allow devices to connect to a network at speeds of up to 70Mb/s in the range of 31 miles around the “access point”.