NetStumbler.com

Mobile WiMax is set to begin a battle with Wi-Fi and 3G networks in the UK. Nortel is pairing with Urban WiMax and Macropolitan to lead the way in this new venture.

The companies recently held a conference between the UK, Canada and the US using this technology on their laptops. Other trials are expected to follow.

In this situation timing is everything as the British Office of Communications is currently planning an auction of spectrum which could be used to convey mobile WiMax and other wireless technologies.

The first products to hit the market may come as early as the end of 2007 but a greater influx is expected by the end of 2008.
Via [computerworlduk.com]

HD television is on the horizon but it’s currently being held down by messy cables. There are two technologies competing to become standard but they’re not quite ready for prime time.

Wireless HDMI (high definition multimedia interface) has come a long way and is actually expected to hit the market in September but the price tag is expected to be a bit high.

The other technology, WirelessHD (WiHD), has gained the support of some big names in the industry but doesn’t currently have a release date in mind although a vague reference was made to 2008.
Via [arstechnica.com]

Dell and Lenovo have just announced the first laptops with embedded Certified Wireless USB chips. This means that all peripherals connected to a USB hub will tie in to your laptop without the use of a cable.

For computer owners who love this idea but aren’t ready for a new computer, D-Link and IOGear have announced an adapter that plugs right into your USB port and gives you the same functionality.
Via [pcworld.com]

Google has a vision of the future and it looks pretty good. Their goal is to make all cellphones compatible with any wireless network and internet access will be sold to customers at deeply discounted prices. In fact, Google is so devoted to this vision that it’s willing to throw $4.6 billion toward transforming prime public airways to a high-speed data freeway.

Google has placed a stipulation on its bid, they want regulators to agree to open access of those airwaves. If the FCC agrees the new spectrum could be revolutionary, giving consumers more choices. This idea is backed wholeheartedly by consumers, public interest groups and a coalition of major technology companies.
Via [latimes.com]

The IEEE 802.20 working group has changed its voting rules after allegations that Qualcomm Inc. was trying to dominate the process.

In the past IEEE members voted as individuals no matter what company they were affiliated with. Now each entity, ie vendors, research groups, universities, etc will have only one vote and thus limit the ability of one company to sway voting results. Paul Nikolich, Chairman of the 802.20 Committee hopes the change will push forward the standard decision.
Via [news.yahoo.com]

Duke University is facing a wireless LAN crisis which seems to be related to the recent release of Apple’s iPhone.

Up to 30 wireless access points can be knocked out at a time as the built-in 802.11b/g adapter on the newly released phone flood the area with MAC address requests. The requests are for an invalid router address, since the iPhone making the request doesn’t get an answer it keeps asking, tying up the system for ten to 15 minutes at a time.

Right now this isn’t a huge problem but school officials are worried that the end of August will bring a huge influx of new iPhone users and more headaches than Duke can handle.
Via [networkworld.com]

It looks like the Wi-Fi Alliance is pushing forward, using the latest draft of the 802.11n standard. This means “Wi-Fi Certified” products should be hitting the shelves this summer.

Eight laboratories around the globe have begun testing pre-standard products to see if they stick to WPA2 protocols and if they are backwards compatible with other 802.11 a/b/g WLAN products that have already earned certification.

Although IEEE’s 802.11n standard isn’t expected to be ratified until early 2009, these pre-certification products are expected to reap this year’s back-to-school dollars.
Via [crn.com]

Wanna share your Wi-Fi? Now you can, and with three choices to boot.

The Whisher beta software is available for download and can operate with most, if not all, Wi-Fi routers or access points. Users must register their Wi-Fi network and to do so, they would need to disclose its name, physical address, and WEP or WPA encryption key (Whisher demands that networks be encrypted), which will go to a database containing information of other Whisher members’ networks. Through the database, Whisher members can locate and log on to each other’s networks for free but they need not worry that other members will see their key since this is only known by the software. Beware, however, of the possibility of network slowdown because controlling the volume of of wireless bandwidth used by Whisher members is impossible.

FON is another option. Unlike Whisher, sharing WiFi through FON is not for free — you need to buy the La Fonera router, which is sold for $40 or half the price if referred by existing FON members — but you can limit the amount of bandwidth use. Plus, you may earn a few bucks since FON allows users to impose a $3 daily fee or $10 for five days for network use, though you can only get less than half of that, after deducting FON’s share and Paypal’s fee, on top of surrendering your free access to other FON networks.

If security is of high importance to you, then WeFi may not be your best choice. The software, which is in beta, works on non-encrypted networks, and at present, with Windows XP only.
Via [wi-fiplanet.com]

T-Mobile has an answer for consumers itching to get rid of their landline phone but worry about weak cellular coverage or costs. The No.4 U.S. mobile carrier is now offering a home Wi-Fi calling service, which would make switching calls from cellular networks to Wi-Fi possible, thus boosting indoor coverage. The service will cost subscribers $19.99 per line or $29.99 for five lines, in addition to the regular monthly cellular fee, and allows for unlimited calls from home or in almost 8,500 places with T-Mobile’s presence. Compatible handsets include Samsung’s t409 and Nokia 6086, which the company plans to sell online and in its stores.
Via [washingtonpost.com]

Imagine a Wi-Fi link between two computers that are 238 miles apart. That is just what Ermanno Pietrosemoli, President of Escuela Latinoamerica de Redes, did in Venezuela.

This apparent record link was created by using some of Intel’s new equipment which can electrically steer signals and some parts that Pietrosemoli picked up at local stores. He then concocted his own long range Wi-Fi system which apparently works incredibly well.

Further research and experiments are being done as long-range Wi-Fi isn’t as reliable as WiMAX but it’s more cost effective.
Via [news.com.com]

AT&T’s President of Government Solutions for Mobility stated LTE will most likely be the path the company takes because there are similar throughputs but they haven’t excluded the possibility of WiMAX technology at this point. He also spent a great deal of time talking about the AT&T Networx’s latest contract win and the future of the $20 billion, 10-year project for the federal government.
Via [wirelessweek.com]

Three years ago Philadelphia Mayor Street announced that he had a dream. He dreamt of a hot city with inexpensive Wi-Fi for everyone whether they were at home or on the go. The city paired up with EarthLink to realize that dream and now, after testing a 15-square-mile area, they say they’re ready to go ahead and tackle the entire 135-square-mile city.

About 385 US cities have announced that they too have similar dreams but Philadelphia is the largest city to attempt the project. And tests so far are good. In the limited region currently covered the promised speed of 1 megabit per second is typically being met and at times it’s even being exceeded.

Naysayers believe that Wi-Fi over such large areas will prove to be much more time consuming and expensive than anticipated and they point to the simplicity of getting Wi-Fi from current cable and phone providers already established in these municipalities as being a better option for consumers. AAA The future is a bit unknown at this juncture but the success or failure of the Philadelphia project should give other cities a glimpse at the possibilities.
Via [philly.com]

Clearwire has recently announced that its WiMax wireless broadband service will be offered to subscribers of DirecTV and EchoStar. This cross marketing deal is expected to go into effect by the end of this year and will let each of the three companies create a very strong marketing bundle for their consumers.

WiMax companies are slightly jumping the gun with their technology as the forum designed to certify standards and specifications still has not made an official approval known. They are expected to do so in the next few months.
Via [informationweek.com]

RSA Security Inc. conducted its annual survey of New York, London and Paris and found that more wireless hot spots are working to secure their networks but a fifth of corporate access points remain open.

In all three cities the percentage of hot spots protected by some form of encryption increased; London went from 76 to 81%, New York only grew from 75 to 76%, while Paris jumped from 78 to 80%. They also found that Wired Equivalent Privacy (WEP) is being replaced by Wi-Fi Protected Access (WPA), a much more secure method.

The number of businesses without adequate protection is a bit surprising considering what could possibly be at risk for these companies. London and Paris both had about 18% of their companies unprotected and New Yorkers topped the list with a full 21% of their businesses tempting fate.
Via [computerworld.com]

People in Cape Cod, Massachusetts just weren’t getting the internet service they hoped for, so instead of fighting with carriers they decided to find their own solution.

The non-profit group, OpenCape Corp was started with about $300,000 in donations from local colleges, communities and development agencies. The group is already taking steps toward its goal by installing point to point radios along the Cape and neighboring Martha’s Vineyard and Nantucket. These radios will form the backbone of the proposed wireless network.

OpenCape currently estimates that the commercial transport net will cost about $2 million to build while the public net will hit the $3 million mark. The commercial side is expected to generate enough revenue that it will pay for the operational costs of both sides.
Via [techworld.com]