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Navini shows pre-mobile WiMAX in 2.3 GHz
Navini Networks' debut of the pre-mobile WiMAX Ripwave MX platform in the 2.3 GHz band positions the company as the only vendor to offer commercial deployment of the frequency in the U.S. The frequency is heavily regulated by the FCC due to the proximity of neighboring satellite radio repeaters, including XM satellite radio. These repeaters may also limit the effectiveness of WiMAX due to the shared "S" band. The company is also the only vendor with access to C and D WCS blocks. …
New WiFi security flaw found
It appears that every two steps forward are followed by at least one step backward. So it is with WLAN security, as clever security researchers said they have found a way to seize control of a laptop computer by manipulating buggy code in the system's wireless device driver. David Maynor and Jon Ellch, a student at the U.S. Naval postgraduate school in Monterey, CA, will demonstrate the flaw at the upcoming Black Hat USA 2006 conference.
Maynor and Ellch "fuzzed" various wireless …
Muni-WiFi as supplements to cable, DSL
The list of cities and towns embracing muni-WiFi is growing. The purpose of these networks is to extend broadband access to neighborhoods and populations which otherwise may not enjoy such access, and make downtown areas more attractive to businesses and visitors. Indeed, a new study from Boston-based consulting firm Strategy Analytics says that WiFi networks planned by these cities and towns may provide Internet access to as many as six million homes within five years-- about 5 percent …
802.11n faces serious technical issues yet
A good start is as important in chess as it is in a 100-meter dash. Datacomm Research's Ira Brodsky says it is also important in 802.11n, and this is why they must get 802.11n right from the get-go. Owing to the fact that many companies-- and many diverse companies, at that-- have a stake in the emerging standard, there are many preferences and perspectives being brought to the formulation of the new standard, leading to the failure at last month's Task Group N meeting of any one proposal …
WiMAX on the streets of London
WiMAX is typically depicted as a suitable solution for rural, sparsely populated, under-served areas. Tell that to U.K. communications infrastructure provider Urban WiMAX, which provides connections for video, data and voice using WiMAX. They are looking for resellers to ramp up business in London and thus increase the number of users on its channel. Sasha Williamson, CEO of Urban WiMax, told CRN, "We want to recruit 12 partners by 2007."
For more on Urban WiMAX's plans …
SPOTLIGHT: Grazing ain't just for cows
There is a new term out there, grazing, which is an alternative to browsing. The term is used to describe Internet users who do not merely go from one Web site to the next (this is browsing), but rather spend more time with each of the Web sites to go to to absorb more of its content (this is grazing). WiFi laptops change online behavior in the home from browsing to grazing-- and advertisers like that change. Discussion
ALSO NOTED: Mindspeed shows suite for VoIP processors; NZ payphones are hotspots; and much more...
> Mindspeed Technologies shows a comprehensive wireless software suite for its Comcerto VoIP processor family. Report
> New Zealand Telecom has launched a pilot program using payphones as WiFi hotspots. Report
> Some people do not like the FON concept of Foneros sharing their WiFi. See criticism--and …
FierceWiFi June 20, 2006
- WiMAX distance record set
- World Cup home to the world's biggest network
- Aruba-Juniper in enterprise WiFi deal
- Maker of world's smallest WiFi chip receives funding
- New Zealand town launches hot spots at pay phones
- SPOTLIGHT: In defense of the realm
- ALSO NOTED: First also noted headline; second headline; and much more...
WiMAX distance record set
Going the distance. WiMAX Telecom Group, the only multinational operator of WiMAX services in Europe, transmitted live pictures of the World Sailing Championships on the Neusiedlersee in Austria through its wireless broadband Internet connection. Why is this important? Because this sets a new record transmitting live video at ranges of up to 40 kilometers and from moving vessel to WiMAX Telecom in extending its network in the coastal region of Croatia. This news should be of interest not …
World Cup home to the world's biggest network
"Púrpura y oro: bandera inmortal;/ en tus colores, juntas, carne y alma están" -- did you know that La Marcha Real, Spain's national anthem, is on of the very few national anthems that has no words? Though the Marcha Real has no lyrics, lyrics have been written and used for it during Spain's long history, and the words above ("Purple and gold...") are from a version used during the reign of Alfonso XIII. Why this lesson in Spanish history? Because I predict …
Aruba-Juniper in enterprise WiFi deal
Good to see a partnership between the old and the new, or the big and the small: WLAN switch start-up Aruba Networks has entered into a partnership deal with networking big hitter Juniper Networks to sell WiFi security equipment to customers in the enterprise. Aruba's marketing VP, Keerti Melkote, told Unstrung that that the deal builds on Aruba's long association with security software provider Funk (Juniper acquired Funk last November for $122 million)
The agreement …
Maker of world's smallest WiFi chip receives funding
Small is beautiful -- and useful. Swedish company Nanoradio has completed an $11.5 million round B financing which will allow it to accelerate production of its first-generation, low-power WiFi chip set solution, called NRX700. The NRX700 is a modest chip: In addition to being the least power-hungry WiFi chip (at +18 dBm RF output only 130mA, during receive mode 53 mA, and in standby 0,05mA), it is also the world's smallest, with a total die size of only 20mm2. The sheer smallness and …
New Zealand town launches hot spots at pay phones
You knew it would come one day. Paraparaumu, New Zealand residents can now access the Internet at high speed with the installation of a new Telecom wireless hot spot at a local Telecom Payphone. Anyone with a WiFi enabled device in the public areas near the payphone can go online at broadband speed without the need for a cable or phone jack.
National Payphone Manager Lisa Wright said the Paraparaumu Telecom payphone is one of the first payphones in New Zealand to be WiFi enabled. …
SPOTLIGHT: In defense of the realm
The U.S. Defense Department has gone back and forth for two years now over what to include in the scope of a modified wireless policy and how to coordinate implementation across the services and agencies. Finally, two weeks ago, DoD CIO John Grimes approved a memorandum aimed at boosting security on WLANs connected to the Global Information Grid. The supplemental policy requires that 802.11i be used for WLANs and devices, and technologies which can store, process, or transmit unclassified …
ALSO NOTED: First also noted headline; second headline; and much more...
> SkyPilot Networks and MetroWiFi will collaborate on building out a wireless network in Foster City, California. Santa Clara-based SkyPilot, a provider of carrier-class broadband wireless mesh networks, and Mountain View-based MetroFi have already collaborated on eight muni-WiFi networks. Report.
> RSan Mateo, California-based real-time locating systems (RTLS) provider AeroScout …
Qualcomm sues Nokia
The London weekly The New Statesman holds an annual competition for the most boring, platitudinous, boring, not-telling-us-anything-we-don't know-already newspaper headline. A couple of years ago, for example, a London Times headline won: "In India, wherever you go there are people." My contribution to the competition would be: "Qualcomm sues for patent infringement" (the good thing about this headline: You can use it every year). Qualcomm has earned a well-deserved …
believes in the one-two approach. First, it will begin a phased roll out of a free wireless Internet access service in its home town of Mountain View, California, this summer. Second, while the company is still hammering out details with San Francisco officials for its citywide WiFi service there, it has already began a public relations campaign aiming to assuage the concerns more and more people have about the privacy aspects of the company's San Francisco deployment.
These …
Minority media group sues FCC over spectrum rules
The Minority Media & Telecommunications Council (MMTC) and two would-be designated entrants in the Federal Communication Commission's (FCC) planned August auction of wireless spectrum licenses have sued the FCC in federal court to stay recent changes to the auction rules and to delay the auction itself. In April the FCC tightened its rules to try and prevent what was becoming a common practice: Larger telecommunications companies using using smaller, rural, women- or minority-run …
Chicago aims to be the First City of muni-WiFi
The Second City has every intention of becoming the First City -- the first city of muni-WiFi, that is. CHICAGO plans to overtake Houston, Philadelphia, and San Francisco to become the biggest US municipality with city-wide wireless Internet access. Trouble is, skeptics suggest that the system may not work. "It's a leap of faith," says Yankee Group's Roberta Wiggins. "It's not really proven yet in a large place."
There currently about 300 US cities deploying or planning to …
Setback for Sacramento's WiFi network
Earthquakes, mud-slides, Congressman "Duke" Cunningham admits to taking millions of dollars in bribes and goes to jail: Any more bad news for California? In fact, yes: MobilePro is pulling out of a deal to set up a wireless network in Sacramento, the state's capital, saying the city's request for a network funded entirely through advertising is not financially feasible. The Maryland-based company had worked with Sacramento officials for more than a year on the proposal to cover the city …
SPOTLIGHT: Do-it-yourself WiMAX
You knew it would come: WiMAX pioneer Alvarion last week unveiled inexpensive, self-installable indoor WiMAX CPE. "It's cheap and easy to install," said Carlton O'Neal, Alvarion's vice president of marketing. "We think this is a breakthrough. It enables you to go mainstream with WiMAX." The CPE, called the BreezeMAX Si, features simple plug-and-play installation and will lead to nomadic and portable services. O'Neal said the CPE is the size of "a one-slice bagel toaster" and will be …
ALSO NOTED: First also noted headline; second headline; and much more...
> TAGSYS announced it has developed a WiFi-enabled handheld, item-level RFID reader designed to improve inventory tracking and management for libraries. Report.
> Mitel unveiled today its new generation of IP phones and accessories. …
FierceWiFi June 6, 2006
- WiMAX makes waves at GLOBALCOMM
- U.S. lags in WiMAX deployment
- Taiwan, China produce more WiFi gear
- Financial industry adopts WiFi, neglects its risks
- Accton to manufacture gear for FON
- SPOTLIGHT: The advantages of backwardness
- ALSO NOTED: Conexant chip targets handhelds; Alt telco PeterStar to launch WiMAX in Kaliningrad; and much more...
WiMAX makes waves at GLOBALCOMM
There are about 20,000 participants and 450 exhibitors at GLOBALCOMM in Chicago this week, and they will hear a lot about WiMAX at the show--and not only at FierceMarkets WiMAX Strategies event (which takes place tomorrow and Thursday). The short list of WiMAX related unveilings, announcements, and demos include:
- Alvarion announces its new BreezeACCESS VL 4.0 system, which offers carrier class triple play services in the 5GHz bands. The new version updates the …