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FierceWiFi September 28, 2005
- Renewed interest in satellite communication
- SkyPilot shows mesh supporting 4.9 GHz
- Sprint to begin trials of 802.16e
- New alliances in PDA sector
- DLNA to require WiFi certification
- SPOTLIGHT: The Times They Are A-Changin'
- ALSO NOTED: Vocera goes with WildPackets; VeratNet to use WiMax gear from ZTE; and much more...
Renewed interest in satellite communication
One thing that did work during Hurricane Katrina and its immediate aftermath were satellite phones. Now, satellite communication provider Inmarsat said it has filed a petition with the FCC asking for authorization to provide Mobile Satellite Services (MSS) by 2010. The service will use a spacecraft operating in the 2 GHz band. Globalstar and Iridium already provide satellite phone service in the US, but they do not have terrestrial repeaters so their service is expensive and the coverage …
SkyPilot shows mesh supporting 4.9 GHz
Much has been written about the failure of communication systems during and following Hurricane Katrina. There is legislation pending in Congress to create a public-safety dedicated band. In the meantime, Colorado Springs, Colorado-based SkyPilot Networks is adding 4.9 GHz licensed bands to its product line, thus making its offerings more suitable for use in public safety networks. The SkyExtender DualBand is a mesh backhaul product which supports both 802.11b/g access services and 4.9 …
Sprint to begin trials of 802.16e
Sprint Nextel and Samsung early next year will launch a series of lab and field trials of 802.16e-based products offering 1 Mbps average throughput in the 2.5 GHz band. The companies thus become the first in the US to conduct major tests of the mobile version of WiMax. 802.16e is expected to be ratified by the IEEE later this year. Sprint will be using a wireless modem and a cellular/WiMax handset in the trials. Note that Sprint has every incentive to enter these trials, as the company …
New alliances in PDA sector
The PDA market is heating up, leading to interesting alliances and partnerships. Intel has just agreed to a technology deal with with Blackberry creator RIM. Intel will provide RIM with Intel's PXA9xx 3G wireless chipset (codenamed Hermon). Intel said it will offer enhanced battery life for smartphones and other mobile devices. The Intel-RIM deal follows closely on the footsteps of a deal announced two days ago between Microsoft and Palm. The two companies will offer a version of the …
DLNA to require WiFi certification
Good going, Wi-Fi Alliance. The Digital Living Network Alliance (DLNA) is now requiring a WLAN interoperability certification from the Wi-Fi Alliance as part of DLNA's own certification program for home networked devices. The DLNA will no longer allow WLAN-enabled gear to carry the group's certification and logo unless they have been certified for WiFi interoperability and security. The DLNA was formed in 2003 to set up a platform for interoperability based on open industry standards. The …
SPOTLIGHT: The Times They Are A-Changin'
Pittsburgh used to be the steel capital of the US. Now it aims to become the premier RFID technology testing center in the nation. The University of Pittsburgh has just unveiled an RFID-dedicated research facility. The center will be directed by Marlin Mickle, the Pitt electrical and computer engineering professor leading much of the RFID work. At current funded research income levels, Pitt is seeing revenue of $1 million per year from its RFID research. Building the RFID center could …
ALSO NOTED: Vocera goes with WildPackets; VeratNet to use WiMax gear from ZTE; and much more...
> Vocera Communications, makers of the famous badge for intra-company wireless communication, has selected WildPackets for internal wireless and wired analysis, and external field test support. Release
> Eastman Kodak is shipping the EasyShare-One, which appears to be the world's first WiFi-enabled camera. The camera plus the WiFi card sell …