Icron Technologies unveiled its maiden wireless USB hub, which it will sell for $395.00. Icron chief executive Robert Eisses expects the product to be popular despite the price. “We sell a CAT-5 USB extender for $695. We sell a lot of them. We expect to sell a lot of these, too,” he said.
WiRanger Cable Free USB 2.0 Hub features 802.11g Wi-Fi technology, which would allow for data transmission over a distance of 30 meters and at a speed of 54 Mbits/s. It houses both Local Extender Module (LEX), and Remote Extender Module (REX) — the LEX is attached to the PC via a type B connector, and the REX, which has four ports, enables four devices to be plugged simultaneously. Eisses warned of possible performance issues because, as per the product’s spec sheet, “some products may not function normally due to (the wireless radio’s) restriction.”
Via [pcmag.com]
That web of wires behind your computer and under your desk may soon become a thing of the past. Once WiMedia’s Ultra Wideband (UWB) technology and Wireless USB products based on WiMedia UWB hit the market. Which could happen in the very near future. UWB has finally become a standard technology as the International Organization for Standardization and Ecma International have signed off on EMA-368, ECMA-369, and ISO/IEC 26907, which provides the basis for Wireless USB. UWB uses low-power radio and multi-band orthogonal frequency-division multiplexing for short data transmissions. In the future expect all of the features and benefits of the USB 2.0 but in a completely wireless environment.
Via [arstechnica.com]
The USB Implementers Forum has launched the Certified Wireless USB Compliance and Certification Program, which will allow vendors to have their UWB-based Wireless USB products certified for product interoperability. Although vendors can perform self-tests, they must submit their products for testing to a Certified Wireless USB test lab before they get certification. Intel’s Wireless USB Platform Integration Lab is the first test center to sign on with the program.
Via [wi-fiplanet.com]
The Certified Wireless USB is now ready to hit the market. This was the overall message of a recent conference on the technology. The USB Implementers Forum (USB-IF) also said the next-generation Certified Wireless USB Peripheral Development Kit (PDK) is now complete. This cheaper, fresh model provides new features and is expected to be available online to Forum members starting July. The event also saw announcements from WiQuest Communications, which revealed that Windows XP drivers for its wireless USB PCI Express mini card and Adapter products are now available, and from LeCroy, which declared that its UWBTracer analysis system is now able to support various Certified Wireless USB Association and Security models. There were also demonstrations such as that of Staccato Communications’ single-chip CMOS solution. Test equipment supplier Ellisys stated that its WiMedia-based protocol analyzer, Wireless USB Explorer 300, has new features like InstantTiming, which renders graphical representation of Wireless USB packet timing. It also unveiled its byte-level frame generator, the UWB Generator 320, which will enable developers to validate reliability through creating reproducible traffic, timing and error scenarios.
Via [wi-fiplanet.com]
It appears there will be yet another battle for domination between 2 competing technologies. This time it is over the future of Wireless USB. Intel is not showing of thier WiMedia technology for personal area networks, and Belkin is pushing thier CableFree USB technologies which do the same thing, but are not interoperable with WiMedia. Both manufacturers have a nearly equal partner following, so it’s hard to guess who might win. In the end it will be the consumer who chooses the winner.
Via [informationweek.com]
Seagate Technology will demonstrate an external hard drive connected to the PC via Wireless USB ultrawideband, the company said Monday.
Via [pcmag.com]
Two critical decisions at last week’s IEEE 802 meeting in Waikoloa, Hawaii, underscore the different paths possible when implementation choices appear to be at loggerheads. Because the 802.15.3a effort to develop a common ultrawideband standard could find no common ground between the multiband-OFDM and direct-sequence groups, the project authorization request was officially abandoned.
Via [commsdesign.com]
A cable outfit says it has come up with the technology to kill off the Universal Serial Bus cable.
Via [theinquirer.net]
The Bluetooth Special Interest Group is planning to co-operate more closely with the Wi-Fi, Ultra-wideband (UWB) and Near Field Communications (NFC) wireless standards.
Via [vnunet.com]
I have a serious case of Bluetooth envy. My wife came home with a new Motorola cell phone with Bluetooth, which uses radio links to transfer data. With a Bluetooth chip buried in her car stereo, she can make and take calls, hands-free, while driving — even with the phone still in her handbag.
Via [fastcompany.com]
US researchers have developed a secure wireless Ultra Wideband (UWB) data communication network that can be used to help monitor US Air Force bases and Department of Energy nuclear facilities, in addition to wirelessly controlling remotely operated weapons systems.
Via [vnunet.com]
Wireless USB took a big leap towards standardization — and its seven major proponents hope towards market adoption — with the release of a version 1 specification.
Via [eetimes.com]
The hodgepodge of incompatible wireless networking technologies is about to get a bit smaller, as companies working on Bluetooth and ultrawideband are combining their efforts.
Via [news.com.com]
Insteon, ZigBee, and Z-Wave. They sound more like comic book characters than wireless home-automation standards. But chances are you’ll see products using one or all of them at your home improvement store in the next year or two. Unlike other wireless home-network technologies, such as 802.11, Bluetooth, and UWB, these three are narrowband. Their data rates are in the sub-200-Kbps range, they send only tiny bits of data around the house, and they require very little power.
Via [extremetech.com]
Ultra high speed wi-fi connections moved closer to reality on Thursday when Intel said it would list standards for the technology later this year.
Via [news.bbc.co.uk]
Wireless USB Ready For Testing
The USB Implementers Forum has launched the Certified Wireless USB Compliance and Certification Program, which will allow vendors to have their UWB-based Wireless USB products certified for product interoperability. Although vendors can perform self-tests, they must submit their products for testing to a Certified Wireless USB test lab before they get certification. Intel’s Wireless USB Platform Integration Lab is the first test center to sign on with the program.
Via [wi-fiplanet.com]