Unwired chief executive David Spence said laptops with embedded mobile WiMax chips will be available to Internet users in 2007.

His announcement follows agreement by the Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers (IEEE) on a new standard for the WiMax network, which now means that all technology and equipment created for it will be readable throughout the world.

"WiMax technology has been specifically developed to allow a lot of high-speed mobile data at a very low cost," Spence said.

"It is all very well to have expensive networks delivering high-speed data, but if the cost is too high then they don't work."

Unwired plans to use the WiMax while Telstra has chosen to offer its mobile broadband products on an updated version of its current 3G network.