WiMAX equipment vendor Alvarion said Thursday it is creating a mobile wireless broadband system based on the still-unratified 802.16e standard.

The first equipment certified as meeting 802.16 standards " better known as WiMAX " is expected in the first half of this year. However, WiMAX has received criticism for not having a mobile component. The 802.16e standard, which provides mobility, isn't expected to become final for at least a year.

However, Alvarion said in a statement that it will soon start testing a wireless system based on the emerging mobile WiMAX standard. WiMAX is expected to deliver speeds of between 1 Mbps and 3 Mbps to end users.

The equipment is apparently being created with the blessings of Intel, WiMAX's most visible champion.

"We are delighted to see Alvarion moving aggressively to realize the full potential of WiMAX technology," Sean Maloney, an Intel executive vice president, said in a statement.

Alvarion said it expects to start testing the mobile system later this year and launch the products in 2006