The lack of certification has not deterred the deployment of Mobile WiMax, as indicated by what is happening in Australia. Around 50,000 Unwired Australia users and several subscribers of TV operator AUSTER in the city of Wagga Wagga are now roaming seamlessly between two Mobile WiMax networks equipped by Navini Networks. The Texas-based company has developed software-upgradeable products such as customer modems, base stations, antennas, and element management systems to ensure an easy transition when the WiMax Forum finally releases the final specifications for 802.16e or Mobile WiMax.
Via [informationweek.com]
Monthly Archive for June, 2006
Wireless security just got a whole lot more complicated. Researchers from ISS, using freely available tools, have found that the drivers for some wireless devices are vulnerable to attack. Using lorcon, a wireless packet fuzzer, they were able to get wireless cars to fail in interesting and sometimes frightening ways. They are holding back details until thier talk at Blackhat USA in August.
Via [techworld.com]
Samsung is getting ready in a big way to jump on WiMax. They are preparing a GSM/WiMax phone as well as PCMCIA cards and base stations for fixed and mobile WiMax. The first products should be seen in the first half of 2007.
Via [techworld.com]
WiMax seems poised to dominate the mobile wireless market in the coming years. CDMA and 3G chip developers are getting serious interest from thier customers about WiMax. The keys seems to be the diverse ownership of WiMax technology patents, many companies own them, rather than just one as is the case with CDMA. Given the deployment scale necessary to compete with existing technologies, it will be some time before the market really heats up.
Via [electronicsweekly.com]
Despite the excitement over WiMax, the technology is not expected to enjoy a large initial uptake. According to Motorola Asia-Pacific chief Simon Leung, WiMax users in Asia will number 3.8 million, most of them in Japan and South Korea, by 2009. One concern is how this technology, which promises to be faster and more extensive than current wireless systems, will tally with the operators’ business plans. Leung believes WiMax will complement existing technologies like WiFi and cellular services. Hwan Woo Chung, vice president of Samsung’s Mobile WiMax Group, meanwhile thinks WiMax will breed a new market, which will entail the production of new devices such as dual-mode handsets and MP3 players with WiMax support.
Via [computerworld.com]
Wardriving may be a thing of the past once WiFi access points are scattered throughout the country and Internet access is free to all, but until then, moochers beware. A man was arrested in Vancouver, WA, after periodically parking in front of a coffee shop over a three-month period to use the shop’s WAP (without entering or making a purchase). Rather than being charged with unauthorized use of a computer network, the 20-year-old, a convicted sex offender, was charged with theft of services. An Illinois man was fined $250 earlier this year for remotely accessing another computer system without permission, and a Florida man was convicted for a similar offense in 2005. For now, perhaps it’s best to buy your own access.
Via [arstechnica.com]
Samsung is first out of the gate with a dual mode CDMA/WiMax phone. Details are scarce, but it appears to use a Korean variant of WiMax called WiBro. No details on availablity but it is a step in the direction of convergance.
Via [vnunet.com]
Cisco has released a new line of stackable WLAN controllers to it’s catalyst line. The new controllers bring cisco back into competition with companies like Aruba in terms of features like wireless roaming. The new switches will hopefully help fill the demand for more port density in the wiring closet for the increased user demand.
Via [eweek.com]
Aruba Networks is set to release some new gear to greatly increase the speed of authentication for large wireless networks. The technology moves authentication away from a central server into the hardware of the network controller, offering up to 1000 authentications a second with EAP. Other announced improvements include features to allow for WLAN authentication in remote offices even if the WAN link to the authentication server is down. Aruba seems to be ready to get into 802.11n, but unlike companies like Linksys, they are waiting for the final ratified standard before jumping in.
Via [techworld.com]
The IEEE has suspended the 802.20 working group that was working on alternatives to WiMax. The group was suspended after infighting over which companies technology would be adopted. This delay means that WiMax should be the clear front runner for high speed wireless for the forseeable future.
Via [news.zdnet.co.uk]
Securing wireless networks in homes and small businesses is no longer a big problem today as the market is teeming with products and solutions to address this concern. One such product is Kaspersky Lab’s Internet Security 6.0, which includes an anti-hacker application and software that can scan wireless and wired networks and restrict access to or activities on the network. Another is Eli Managed Service, which comes with a firewall, content filtering, wireless gateway, VPN support, and protection against viruses, spam, spyware and phishing attacks. WiTopia meanwhile is offering SecureMyWiFi, a downloadable software that utilizes an external server to perform authentication and encryption.
Via [informationweek.com]
For many cities, a municipal wireless network is no longer just a someday proposition — in fact, Wi-Fi access is either already in place or in the planning stages for cities across the US. The new question to ask is “who.” Who will have access to “free citywide access?” Updating wireless networks to reach all areas equally can put cities at risk of neglecting other needs, but leaving them alone can leave segments of the population outside the access area. Citywide installers are running into literal barriers as well — stucco, elevators, brick, buildings, and walls. New hardware is being developed to avoid the “hit and miss” method of access to all, but costs rise along with accuracy. “Free” citywide access may soon suffer from a short shelf-life.
Via [pcmag.com]
Google has no plan to profit from the the free Wi-Fi service that it is providing to Mountain View, California, the city where it is based. “The reason it is free is because…we want to get a lot of people on it,” Google’s Larry Alder said at the Supernova 2006 conference in San Francisco. Though fully deployed, the service is not yet accessible to all residents in the area. Google dismissed fears of privacy infringement, insisting that it will only require users to have a Google account and will not demand for their names or addresses. The account, according to the company, is needed for problem-monitoring purposes.
Via [news.com.com]
In the fast paced world of wireless development, there are a number of companies to watch. It could be using wireless for equipment monitoring, convergance phones, location tracking, customer relations software, or high speed data. Whatever the application there are some interesting times ahead.
Via [networkworld.com]
Municipal WiFi Networks May Provide Broadband To Millions
Municipal wireless broadband networks may be offering their citizens free or inexpensive Internet access, but they aren’t expected to win over the broadband market. While citywide networks may be better than dial-up, they might not match the speed and quality of only slightly more expensive DSL. Telecom and cable companies still have an edge, and experts predict most households will use municipal WiFi only as a supplement for their cable or DSL. Regardless, Chicago is forging ahead with plans to blanket its metropolitan areas with hotspots, and Philadelphia, San Francisco, Anaheim, and Portland are following suit.
Via [technewsworld.com]