Tag: Commentary

It's clear that 2005 will be the make or break year for WiMAX. Every wireless chip and equipment maker of note bar Qualcomm is now part of the WiMAX Forum; the planned harmonization of 802.16e with Korea’s Wi-Bro could create the first unified global standard for both fixed and mobile communications; WiMAX could quite realistically...

I'm just back from the massive Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas, where last week more than 2,400 manufacturers showed off the latest gadgets and technologies that will hit computers and electronics stores over the next year. Via [boston.com]

WiMax is the answer to everything, or so it seems: a wireless alternative to DSL and cable modems; a bigger and better technology for hotspots; the saviour of rural broadband; even a 3G killer. Via [networks.silicon.com]

When the evangelists for wireless disappear and are replaced by regular ol' folks complaining about their connection quality, you know that wireless has gone mainstream. That hasn't quite happened yet, although Wi-Fi has certainly become very convenient. Witness the thousands of Wi-Fi public hotspots at Starbuck's or McDonald's, which already have killed off cyber cafes....

Wi-Fi promises to broaden its horizons as PalmSource looks to Linux, Symbian eyes the mass market and Microsoft mixes it up in the mobile market. Via [eweek.com]

No longer just for gadget geeks, phone calling over the Internet -- known as Voice over Internet Protocol, or VoIP -- is going mainstream, driven by consumer market entry of such telecommunications giants as AT&T and entertainment heavyweights like Comcast. Via [mercurynews.com]

Analysts see a down year for chip sales in 2005, but not for the ones that enable wireless networking. Via [kansascity.com]

Wi-Fi is on the rise. With at least seven locations in McKinney and nearly 50,000 worldwide, wireless internet hotspots are becoming as ubiquitous as the corner McDonald's ... literally. Via [zwire.com]

In 2004, cities started treating wireless broadband like sewage and water, converged devices started flying off the shelves and the U.S. wireless industry got smaller. Via [commsdesign.com]

The Radicati Group pegs the penetration of Wi-Fi in the enterprise at 50 percent by 2008. Cut that number in half and it’s still huge. So now that Wi-Fi is becoming a standard part of enterprise infrastructure, it’s time to get serious about security and management. Via [infoworld.com]

Pennsylvania has been hit by a torrent of criticism over a new law restricting cities from offering Internet access. Via [news.com.com]

Wireless software provider Wireless Valley this week announced at the Wi-Fi Planet Conference and Expo its strategic intent to extend its design software offerings to cover such emerging technologies as RFID, ZigBee, and WiMax. Via [wi-fiplanet.com]

Federal and state governments usually promote competition for telecom services, but some states are blocking free Wi-Fi access. Via [pcworld.com]

There are some strange and, some say, wonderful things happening to the plumbing of the global network of computer networks that make up the Internet. Via [globetechnology.com]

As the Wi-Fi sector passes through another stage of development, industry leaders are converging in Silicon Valley this week to discuss the latest trends. Via [internetnews.com]