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]
Tag Archive for 'Standards'
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]
More than a decade ago, an EDN article examined the developments that paved the way for the wireless technology era. A March 4, 1993 feature entitled “Digital wireless networks” foresaw the existence of wireless LANs that could operate over infrared or RF channels and predicted that the Federal Communications Commission would allow various frequency-hopping and direct-sequence spread spectrum modulation schemes. Although it did not say anything about direct-sequence champion AT&T Microelectronics, the report mentioned Proxim, which advocated the frequency-hopping approach.
Via [edn.com]
HP unveiled a $2,199 high-definition LCD TV that has built-in 802.11 a/b/g Wi-Fi radio and standard Ethernet network connections. The new SLC3760N 37-inch MediaSmart high-definition LCD TV can link up with PCs running HP’s proprietary software. But because the display only has WiFi radio and not a router, users must secure another Wi-Fi connected device so it can access pre-recorded content. The TV is teeming with AV ports including an optical audio plus HDMI out to enable direct connection to stereos and home theater receivers.
Via [extremetech.com]
California governor Arnold Schwarzenegger signed a bill that would label WiFi routers with security warning stickers. The law, which will take effect on October 1, 2007, aims to ensure that consumers would know how to activate security setting on a new home networking equipment. Schwarzenegger also vetoed a bill that would restrict the way the state could use RFID technology in identification cards. He believed it would be better to wait for the approval of national standards before the state creates its own.
Via [arstechnica.com]
The WiFi Alliance plans to certify the interoperability of draft-n products ahead of the full approval of the 802.11n standard. Under the two-phase certification program, the alliance will begin testing the products including baseline features from the standard in the first half of 2007 while the next phase will involve the final ratification, which is expected to take place in the first quarter of 2008. Many products based on the key features of the standard are now being sold and the estimate is that tens of millions more of these products will hit the market in 2007.
Via [elecdesign.com]
Intel looks to introduce Nokia’s 3G chip and improved graphics support for Microsoft’s Windows Vista in its next-generation motherboards for notebooks. According to Dadi Perlmutter, who heads Intel’s mobility group, the Santa Rosa package will hit the market in the first half of next year. The company also plans a 2007 release for a new chip using a different architecture from the Core 2 Duo for ultramobile PCs. The chip is expected to eat less power and be considerably smaller than the current mobile designs.
Via [news.zdnet.com]
Rotani has unveiled VideoPuck, an new program designed to provide noise-free WiFi for the IPTV market. The new software can be integrated in the the firmware of standard access points and set top boxes and promises to address WiFi interference problems during IPTV multicasts. Rotani co-founder and executive vice president Nicholas Funke said European IPTV providers Deutsche Telekom and Telecom Italia have already expressed interest in acquiring the technology.
Via [wi-fiplanet.com]
Intel plans to incorporate 802.11n into the new version of its Wi-Fi/WiMax chipset. Kedron is expected to be five times better, with data throughputs that are 30 times higher than the 2003 version. The company is now conducting a cooperative testing with major LAN networking suppliers, namely Netgear, D-Link, Linksys and Buffalo, to ensure interoperability of the chipset with other 802.11n products out of the box. The company’s goal is to come out with the first combined Wi-Fi and WiMax radio chipset in two years.
Via [theinquirer.net]
The ZigBee Alliance is updating its standard, which promises more choice and control. The update is designed to stop a single point-of-failure on the network and enables OEMs to generate groups of devices while letting individual devices to belong to multiple groups. The enhanced Zigbee, which the company plans to release to the public in the first quarter of next year, offers support for over-the-air (OTA) setup, and broadcasts of commands such as “awake” or “sleeping” for various devices to decrease RAM requirements.
Via [wirelessweek.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]
WiMax spectrum owners have created their own organization. The WiMax Spectrum Owners Alliance currently comprises Unwired Australia, Network Plus Mauritius, UK Broadband, Irish Broadband, Austar Australia/Liberty Group, Telecom New Zealand, WiMAX Telecom Group, Enertel and Woosh Telecom. WISOA secretary general Patrick Cruise O’Brien said the group differs from the WiMax Forum in the sense that the latter is focused on setting standards, while the organization aims to address issues concerning the development of networks and commercialization of the technology. WISOA seeks to have an active dialogue with GSM operators, who see WiMax as a rival technology. O’Brien believes the creation of a mobile virtual network operator will enable the two sides to work together. WISOA plans to meet again in December to discuss issues concerning roaming, fixed WiMax in emerging markets, and specification and joint procurement with vendors. It also hopes to increase its membership to include Clearwire and Sprint.
Via [wi-fiplanet.com]
A group of high-speed wireless operators and spectrum owners has launched the WiMax Spectrum Owners Alliance in Paris. The organization comprises Unwired Australia, the Austar Australia/Liberty Group, Network Plus Mauritius, UK Broadband, Irish Broadband, Telecom New Zealand, WiMax Telecom Group, Enertel, and Woosh Telecom. It hopes to formalize by December the first international WiMax roaming deal, which involves all WiMax services as well as WiMax frequency ranges and will serve as the framework for the development of a future global WiMax network. At present, some 25,000 roaming agreements are in place around the world and they generate nearly £10 billion in revenue per year.
Via [techworld.com]
WiMax is expected to enjoy extensive adoption, particularly with the development of chips and equipment based on IEEE’s 802.16 standard. Adaptix recently unveiled its BX-3000 Micro basestation and SX-300 mobile terminals while Aperto already received WiMAX Forum certification for its PacketMAX 100 and 300 customer-premise-equipment (CPE) units. Though only few services exist, more and more companies are investing in and testing the technology. Intel and Motorola gave $600 million and $300 milllion, respectively to finance Clearwire’s plan to offer WiMax broadband services nationwide starting next year. Sprint Nextel also announced it will spend up to $3 billion to build a high-speed network using the technology. Both Clearwire and Sprint intend to use the 2.5-GHz spectrum, the only availble band for Wimax’s use in the U.S.
Via [elecdesign.com]
Faster Testing Could Mean More Certified Wi-Fi
Azimuth Systems has released a new test suite that could reduce the testing time for WiFi products by two-thirds. WiFi Alliance’s Authorized Test Laboratories worldwide will use the AzCert Wi-Fi Certification Test Suite. Azimuth vice president of marketing Jeff Abramowitz estimated that testing will take between four and five hours. Although the laboratories have yet to certify a product, Abramowitz believes they will come out with an announcement soon and more in the future as “faster turnaround is expected.”
Via [wi-fiplanet.com]