NetStumbler.com

Intel has unveiled Rosedale II, the company’s first chip that supports mobile Wimax. The firm, according to Chris Beardsmore, Intel’s market development manager for Europe, will conduct commercial trials of the new silicon in Europe by the end of 2006. Beardsmore expects Rosedale II to expand the user base of Intel’s WiMax solutions. Beardsmore said: “What we’re seeing with Rosedale II is, not only have the vendors who bought Rosedale I (a fixed WiMax chip) said they’ll buy it, but we’ve also seen people like Alcatel enter the market.” He revealed that 10 companies have already ordered the new chip, whose production is set to start “later this year.”
Via [news.zdnet.co.uk]

Michael Calabrese, a vice-president at the New America Foundation, has proposed opening up “white space” or unused spectrum between TV channels to boost the availability and coverage of WiFi in the U.S. Calabrese argued that “white space” provides “beachfront” spectrum, a low frequency spectrum ideal for WiFi, which needs to operate on very low power so as not to interfere with other wireless networks or devices like cordless phones. Calabrese believes this unused spectrum between TV channels is the “rocket fuel for broadband networking.” Technology firms support the plan — Intel’s studies reveal that “white space” boost WiFi signals — while the Federal Communications Commission is now studying the proposal and has solicited public comments on it. Large telecommunications companies opposed the proposal as they see it as a threat to their massive investments in 3G, cable and DSL services.
Via [businessweek.com]

CenturyTel is looking to set up a public-access wireless internet network in Vail Village, a ski town in Colorado. But before the communications provider can do that, it must ensure that the 84 nodes – cylindrical metal objects nearly 3-feet tall and 1-foot in diameter – that it plans to intall must not spoil the improvements in Vail Village, as per the recommendation by the Vail town council members. Originally, CenturyTel wanted 18 of the nodes to be placed on Vail Villages’s $2,000-a-piece lampposts, a plan frowned upon by council members. Bob Stone of CenturyTel said that under the revised map to be submitted to Vail’s Design and Review Board for approval on August 1, the company will instead install the equipment on other city-owned property like bridges, restrooms, and parking facilities. CenturyTel expects the network to be operational by November. It has yet to determine the price of services but the firm expects it to “very competitive in the marketplace.”
Via [vaildaily.com]