Author: RenderMan

Bellsouth is offering WiMax as backup service for broadband customers as a value added addon service for regular broadband custoemrs. The system was implimented after hurricane Katrina flooded central offices and delayed restoring broadband service. Using WiMax as a backup is a very good niche for WiMax to be in, however if your buying service...

The market for wireless devices is high, however profits are down because the per unit cost is falling. Manufacturers are scrambling to find ways to prop up sales of thier products. One way seems to be the 'ala carte' method of a modular wireless network where the customer only buys what they need and can...

Airvana is joining the convergance train and releasing a gateway to allow cellular and IP based networks to seamlessly roam from one protocol to another. The point is made though that such hand offs can have major security implications that haven't been dreamed of yet. Only time will tell if this technology is really used...

MIMO (Multiple in, Multiple Out) technology stands to greatly increase the coverage and stability of Wi-Fi networks. Chipmaker Airgo is starting to demo 200Mbit/sec wireless networking at various trade shows. Until the 802.11n spec is ratified, Airgo and other MIMO vendors stand to continue selling alot of units to cover ever increasing demands of users....

UK Marriot hotels are set to roll out Wireless net access for guests across 9000 hotel rooms. The deal with vendor iBahn covers 60 hotels for wired and wireless solutions. Hotel guests almost demand that hotels have broadband now. This roll out should keep guests happy with Marriot for a little while anyways. Via [vnunet.com]...

The average consumer wants to have fast, easy to use wireless and they don't want to be stuck with one manufacturer. They want to be able to have the same speed and ease of use on any wireless devices. This is the whole point of the 802.11 specifications, interoperability and reliability are key to standards...

The 'largest' wireless mesh network that originally started in Tempe, Arizona is expanding out to the neighbooring towns of Gilbert and Chandler. The 187 square mile network will be one of the largest in the world and one of the first featuring compatability and cooperation between multiple communities. It will be a pay service, but...

London is the latest city to get "free' WiMax service. Of course it's only free during the trial period and as with many things, is planned to be a pay service in a few months. Urban WiMax is aiming to come in about 50-70% of local SDSL prices and is using the trial period to...

London Stansted, Heathrow, Gatwick, Glasgow, Edinburgh and Southampton airports will all soon have WiFi available for travellers. The partnership between 'The cloud' and BAA allows the BAA to provide for the ever increasing demand worldwide for WiFi service in airports. Via [vnunet.com]

Only a short time ago telco operators were quietly pushing for legislation all over the states to prevent municipalities from starting thier own municipal WiFi programs for fear of competition and undercutting thier pricing. Now it seems that they have realized the oppourtunity in front of them and are starting to wake up and partner...

Any time a new technology emerges, there is always debate over how well it will work. One group always touts it as the solution to all sorts of problems, while others say that it'll never catch on. WiMax is no exception it seems. Developers of WiMax products obviously tout it as the solution to all...

Wireless mesh networking is the key ingredient in making the dream of municipal WiFi a reality. That dream is a little closer with the adoption of 802.11s. Until recently there was no standard available for early adopters to use so they were risking alot if things changed from the method they were using. The lack...

Nortel has provided technology to allow T-mobile that allows seamless roaming between 3G, EDGE, GPRS, and WiFi networks in Europe. No word yet if this 'always on' internet experience has an off button. Via [cbronline.com]

Japanese telcom KDDI is set to roll out mobile WiMAX in Japan in the very near future. Field trials in Osaka demonstrated a high speed hand off from base stations at speeds of 120 Km/h. Their plans also cover hand off between EVDO, cellular and other wireless technologies for the estimated the 15.4 million subscribers...

With ever demanding increases on bandwidth on networks all over, wireless systems need to be tested to be sure they can handle the demands of users in the future. The 802.11T standard is being added to the alphabet soup of 802.11 specs. 802.11T defines specifications for testing wireless gear to make sure it can handle...