Cisco Quits WiMax

7:30 AM -- The WiMax access market has one less supplier now that Cisco Systems Inc. (Nasdaq: CSCO) has confirmed that it will no longer make new WiMax base stations, as reported by Fierce Wireless.

Here's Cisco's statement on its change of heart for WiMax base stations, which a spokesman sent over to Light Reading Mobile in an email:

After careful review of our mobility strategy and investments, we have decided to discontinue designing and building new WiMAX base stations. As part of this decision, we are committed to continue with our current service provider mobility strategy to provide a radio-agnostic approach to focus on the packet core and to also focus investment in radio technologies such as Femtocell and Wi-Fi. We believe the best way for Cisco to serve our customers is by delivering value at the edge and core of our customers’ networks.

Cisco got in to the WiMax base station business with the acquisition of Navini Networks Inc. for $330 million in 2007. (See Cisco Buys Navini for $330M.)

But the company still has a hand in the wireless access game through its work on femtocells and, of course, WiFi. Cisco recently revealed on its Website that it is supplying the femto access point for AT&T Inc. (NYSE: T)'s Microcell service, which has long been an open secret. (See Cisco Claims AT&T Femto as Its Own, AT&T Takes MicroCells to Vegas, Cisco, ip.access Prep Femto Combo, and Cisco Invests in ip.access.)

— Michelle Donegan, European Editor, Light Reading Mobile