The WiMAX Forum says its lead certification lab in Spain is now open for formal WiMAX certification testing and evaluation of mobile WiMAX products. Four other certification labs — in the United States, Taiwan, China and Korea — are expected to open for mobile WiMAX testing shortly.

The open labs for the mobile WiMAX element means WiMAX Forum vendors can begin submitting their 2.3 GHz and 2.5 GHz equipment for testing. Certified mobile WiMAX products are expected to hit the commercial market in early 2008.

"This is a major milestone," says Mo Shakouri, vice president of marketing for the WiMAX Forum.

The WiMAX Forum estimates that more than 300 operators from more than 65 countries have deployed Mobile WiMAX pilots and trials.

In a press release, Barry West, president of Sprint's Xohm Business Unit, commented that certification facilitates Xohm's model for open access. "We applaud the WiMAX Forum for this important and timely step, which will encourage device innovation in anticipation of Sprint's WiMAX network launch in the U.S."

Sprint's plans to launch commercial Xohm service in the second quarter of 2008 are still on track, and the company, which welcomed new CEO Dan Hesse this week, is in the midst of conducting a soft launch with employees in the Chicago and Baltimore/Washington markets.