Author: Wayne Slavin

The time it takes roam between Wi-Fi wireless networks can be dramatically shortened thanks to software developed by two computer scientists at the University of California, San Diego. Via [vnunet.com]

Sure, we know you can plug it in. But what can you make it do? Via [wi-fiplanet.com]

Intel's mobility guru Sean Maloney said that masts beaming WiMAX signals across the metropolis do not pose any risk to health. Via [theinquirer.net]

Swedish company Neonode is introducing Internet via wireless LAN (WLAN), into their mobiles. The company has been working with Philips Semiconductors to develop a mobile with low power consumption and WLAN support. The launch of the new Neonode mobile is planned for the second half of 2005. Via [geekzone.co.nz]

If press reports are to be believed, then next Monday's gathering of cardinals in the Sistine Chapel will represent the biggest counter-surveillance operation since the Posh/Becks royal wedding. Indeed, so busy will the Vatican be blocking laser microphone assault, checking vases of flowers for nanobugs and setting the Swiss Guard on suspicious men using 3G...

Samsung Electronics was elected to the Board of Directors of the WiMAX Forum, the highest body of the broadband wireless nonprofit organization. Via [news.designtechnica.com]

Sean Maloney, general manager of Intel's mobility group is here in old London Town. He said that Intel realised some years ago that fibre wasn't the answer to delivering broadband He said that while there were lots of technical challenges with Wimax, Intel had gotten over them one by one. Via [theinquirer.net]

The US Army will by June deploy in Iraq its "Matrix" system of remotely-detonated landmines, despite widespread concerns about the technology. The Mosul-based Styker Brigade will, according to Yahoo! news, be able to control individual devices from a laptop via a WLAN set-up. The Army reckons Matrix will eliminate accidental deaths caused by dumb landmines....

Cisco Systems Inc., building on the strength of its recent acquisition of Airespace Inc., is planning a move into the emerging wireless mesh networking market. Via [eweek.com]

The ZigBee Alliance has announced the first four platforms to successfully complete interoperability testing for the short-range wireless technology. The platforms will be used to test ZigBee offerings that emerge in the coming months and, therefore, pave the way for ZigBee deployment in applications such as industrial control, HVAC and home automation. Via [eetimes.com]

Taiwan's WiMAX (worldwide interoperability for microwave access) development is trailing South Korea, China and Singapore, as the government is dragging its feet on allocating a frequency range and telecoms remain focused on 3G mobile communication technologies, according to Taiwan's telecom equipment makers. Via [digitimes.com]

Printers often get left behind when Wi-Fi comes to a home; the cables needed to link them to a PC may wind up anchoring at least one computer to a desk. Printing from any other machine then involves fussing with printer sharing (always an adventure in Windows) or transferring individual files to the one machine...

Vanilla 802.11b routers and connection devices including cards, PC-Cards, and USB fobs, are on the verge of extinction at the local Big Box store. There's some Linksys b-type gear on the shelves, but both Netgear and Viewsonic are rebating their g devices down to prices that match and beat Linksys's rebates. Via [theinquirer.net]

Check Point Software Technologies is expected to announce on Monday that it will begin selling wireless security appliances, as it looks beyond the tethered firewall and VPN market. Via [news.zdnet.com]

Philadelphia has started soliciting bids for its proposed $10M muni Wi-Fi project; telecoms and cable companies oppose it. Will this be the beginning of the end for muni Wi-Fi? Via [eweek.com]