NetStumbler.com

Ovum analyst Julien Grivolas expects faster third-generation mobile services to become mainstream consumer service by 2008. The analyst firm believes users of High-Speed Downlink Packet Access (HSDPA) in Western Europe will grow to 16.5 million in two years and 50 million through 2010. Grivolas ascribed the high estimated uptake to the reality that HSDPA recycles the spectrum already utilized for 3G base technology, Universal Mobile Telecommunications System. This development, he said, could dampen the pace of adoption of WiMax. “In areas where HSDPA becomes widely available, like Western Europe, and where well-suited spectrum for 802.16e [mobile WiMax] is rare, the window of opportunity for mobile WiMax will be quite limited,” Grivolas remarked. Dean Bubley of Disruptive Analysis disagreed with Grivolas’ view, saying that WiMax would enjoy more success because it will not necessitate a backhaul upgrade to maximize the high speeds that it can deliver. In addition, “many cellular operators have a Walled Garden mindset, whereas possibly mobile WiMax plays better to the 21st century view of the world, where connectivity and services should be decoupled,” he stated.
Via [news.zdnet.co.uk]

MusicGremlin is one of the latest Wi-Fi enabled music players in the market. The $299 device comes with an 802.11 wireless connection and carries 8 GB of storage or about 2,000 MP3, WMA, or WMA DRM worth of tracks. At $14.99 per month, subscribers get access to MusicGremlin Direct’s 2-million-track music library directory, which is saved and invisibly updated to the gadget. Gremlists — preprogrammed weekly lists of 10 songs in different genres, including hits, rap and classic rock — are also available to subscribers. Sans a Wi-Fi connection, Gremlin owners can create ad-hoc networks to exchange songs among themselves.
Via [news.com.com]

Skyhook i trying to attract developers to thier WiFi positioning system (WPS). The alternative to GPS uses data from wardriving to locate a user based on the access points they are near. In urban areas where GPS can fail, WPS is supposed to be able to work. The company seems to be targeting developers of all sorts, from cell phones to PDA’s to tablets.
Via [informationweek.com]