If you have been following the 4G cellular data deployment wars, you know by now there are two competing standards: WiMax and LTE. While WiMax was first to start rolling out here in the U.S., the majority of the carriers in the U.S. as well as most everyone else have committed to LTE as their 4G solution. Only Sprint with partner ClearWire has been deploying WiMax in the U.S., which gives it the advantage of the first 4G deployments in the U.S.

It does appear now that something might make the tables turn a bit, or at least throw a wrinkle into the choice between WiMax and LTE for handset providers; and that is the announcement from Beecem of the BCS500 4G chip solution. The BCS500 is a single-chip solution that is able to support both WiMax and LTE and seamlessly switch between either standard.

While the chip isn’t ready yet, it will enter production early next year and it is expected to show up in devices before mid-year. The chip itself is said to be the result of what is being described as a collaboration with Motorola. Beecem still has a lot of hurdles to overcome and price might be one of the biggest, as the BCS500 could end up costing much more than single WiMax or LTE-only chip solutions.

While next year might make some cringe at the thought of still having to wait that long, the reality is that while WiMax does at least have some deployment completed in the U.S., it is still far from widely available.  LTE, on the other hand, is just starting its rollout in the U.S. and it is expected to be at least early next year before carriers have a significant presence of LTE within the U.S.

The end result is that the estimated release timing of the BCS500 might be a very good move, as with the combination of WiMax and LTE you could have a good amount of 4G support. The bigger question is how much power the BCS500 will consume, and how many device makers can Beecem get on board to use their solution. As with 4G, it is really going to be a wait and see thing; but we have to admit that it is perhaps a step in the right direction.