NetStumbler.com

Sprint CTO Barry West regards WiMax the 4G technology because not only is it faster, it is also cheaper. According to West, WiMax causes a 10-fold improvement in the price-per-bit as it uses a wider channel. The current CDMA networks run on a 1.25-MHz channel and can deliver a maximum of 4 bits per hertz, or around 5Mbit/s at the base station. WiMax, on the other hand, makes use of a 10-MHz channel, thus it can generate a total of 40Mbit/s.
Via [techworld.com]

Rohde & Schwarz has unveiled SMU200A, SMATE200A and SMJ100A signal generators, which have SMx-K49 option installed. The devices can generate OFDM signals in line with the 802.16-2004 and the 802.16e-2005 standards. The SMU200A can be furnished with two different baseband modules, fading options, additional noise sources and two RF paths to create different test scenarios. The latest edition of the software enables various WiMAX multi-carrier scenarios with a sole baseband path and RF path in the generator.
Via [electronicsweekly.com]

WiMax is gaining momentum as major firms continue to unveil devices and plans to support the technology. Motorola announced it will sell WiMax wireless modems early next year and WiMax chipsets in 2008. Nokia, meanwhile, will release Flexi WiMax base station for the 2.5-GHz band by the end of 2007 and the 3.5-GHz version in 2008. Nortel introduced a range of mobile WiMax gears such as base station transceivers, network gateways, antennas, mobile subscriber stations, and management systems, while Intel rolled out a hardware and software package to enable telecom equipment makers integrate WiMax into their wireless base stations.
Via [informationweek.com]

D-Link has released its first 802.16-2005-compliant WiMAX router. The device, which supports both WiMax and WiFi, is intended for residential wireless service providers that want to keep their prices competitive with wire-line technologies. It is easily installed and allows for coverage over the entire house.
Via [tmcnet.com]

Intel has launched a WiMax experiment in Galapagos Islands. The idea is to test hardware and software that will enable scientists and researchers to share data with one another.
Via [theinquirer.net]

Starting October 1, 2007, manufacturers should include security warning stickers on all wireless home networking equipment sold in California. The “Wi-Fi User Protection Bill,” which Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger signed into law on September 30, 2006, aims to block unauthorized sharing of open WiFi networks and inform consumers of the dangers associated to using unsecured networks. Major vendors like Linksys, Netgear and Buffalo Technology welcome the new law because it will increase the awareness of consumers concerning wireless networking security.
Via [wi-fiplanet.com]

WiFi is experiencing rising popularity in Europe as demonstrated by the considerable increase in the deployment of wireless hotspots in the continent. According to a new study by BroadGroup Tariff Services, the number of hotspots in the region grew by 28 percent from May 2005 to September 2006. Majority of these devices are found in the U.K., Germany and France. The report also noted that two-thirds of all hotspots in Europe are managed by telcos and mobile operators.
Via [vnunet.com]

The demand for enteprise equipment, according to IDC, is on the upswing, with a 14 percent increase in total revenues over the last 12 months. Still the segment is much smaller than the consumer market, which continues to drive the European WLAN market. End-user revenues from WLAN equipment in this region amounted to $1.2 billion in the first half of 2006. This segment saw a 22 percent growth in the second half of last year and makes up 80 percent of the market.
Via [siliconrepublic.com]

BT is giving more minutes to people accessing its Openzone WiFi hotspot. The offer, which will last through January 31, 2007, allows users of its £6 one-hour vouchers to have 90 non-consecutive minutes so long as they use them within 24 hours. Those under the 24-hour or 30-day plan have no similar privilege.
Via [techworld.com]

The latest edition of “The Good Hotel Guide” criticized the exorbitant WiFi rates in U.K. hotels. According to the report, some hotels demand £5 per hour of use, though running a WiFi network is relatively low-cost. The annual publication, which offers free listings and does not run advertising, uses reader input as the basis for its recommendations.
Via [news.com.com]

The bizarre saga involving the discovery and disclosure of WiFi driver vulnerabilities in Apple products continues. After SecureWorks researcher David Maynor revealed that the MacBook has a code execution flaw during the Black Hat conference, Apple decided to remove SecureWorks from the reporting credits concerning its patch. Now comes a statement saying that the two “are working together in conjunction with the CERT Coordination Center on any reported security issues,” which implied that the companies have come to an understanding. There are rumors too that SecureWorks is forbidding Maynor from presenting at the ToorCon conference, where he and independent researcher Jon “Johnny Cache” Ellch are set to “cover the complete story.”
Via [eweek.com]

The city of Chicago is calling for proposals to build a WiFi network that could cover at least 90 percent of the city and provide free or low-cost Internet connection. The network should deliver a speed of no less than one 1 Mbps. Aside from fully financing and owning the network, the contract winner will also be in charge of maintenance and technical upgrades. For its part, the city would give the network nonexclusive access to essential infrastructure, such as street light poles.
Via [suntimes.com]

WiFi-enabled phones are the hottest products to hit the market, with Nokia launching several gadgets that it labeled as “multimedia computers” with built-in Wi-Fi capabilities. French wireless operator Orange is now offering its ulink service that will allow customers in Paris to make unlimited local calls with the use of a WiFi phone. T-Mobile plans to sell new cellphones that can use both traditional cellular networks and T-Mobile-operated Wi-Fi hotspots. This development benefits big wireless operators as the trend is geared towards increasing competition, fuels adoption of data services, helps wireless carriers manage their networks, and drives up DSL sales.
Via [money.cnn.com]

For cyber criminals, free wireless public networks provide great tools for stealing sensitive data of laptop owners. Users who are therefore not familiar with procedures to secure their computers could become victims of a “channeling” attack, a practice that allows hackers to obtain online banking passwords and other personal information by creating a fake access point in public places like airports. To prevent this, users must take precaution by verifying if the network is legitimate before connecting to it, shutting off the wireless card if there are no plans to access the Internet or another machine, and being aware of the type of information being shared in public locations. It would also be helpful to use a VPN for data encryption, switch off shared folders, and update security settings regularly.
Via [news.zdnet.com]

More and more Canadian small businesses are turning to combined systems of wired and wireless networks to improve office productivity. Hybrid solutions allow for more mobility and enable companies to maximize investment in hardware, peripherals and wired networks. Speed is one major reason why companies opt not to go completely wireless at the moment. “If you are using any kind of application involving digitally rich material, wireless can’t handle it. The best you can do is 54 megabits a second versus 20 times that speed with a T1 Internet connection,” Barry Dowd, chief of Integrated Business Intelligence Corp. of Hamilton, remarked. Dave Robinson, vice-president of business implementation at Rogers Communications Inc. in Toronto, expects the speed of wireless downloads to improve considerably with the approval of the 802.11n standard.
Via [theglobeandmail.com]