The Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers Inc. (IEEE) this morning announced the approval of the 802.16e standard, the specification that will serve as the basis for mobile WiMax technology.

Though the announcement had been expected since the standard was completed nearly two months ago, the news that 802.16e has been approved by IEEE’s Standards Board represents a major milestone in the development and implementation of mobile, broadband wireless services. (See Mobile WiMax Coming Soon?)

The new standard will officially be named 802.16-2005. Mobile WiMax trials and certification testing by the WiMAX Forum could now proceed in the first half of 2006, industry observers say, with products to follow in late 2006 or 2007.

Get all the details at Unstrung.

— Richard Martin, Senior Editor, Unstrung