Author: Wayne Slavin

Symbol Technologies will this week ship a new handheld aimed at mobile staff such as service engineers and delivery drivers. The ruggedised device offers multiple wireless options and facilities such as a barcode scanner, allowing staff to query central data sources while in the field. Via [vnunet.com]

Texas Instruments Inc. has added a ZigBee play to its portfolio of high performance analog chips with the completion of its acquisition of Chipcon. Via [reed-electronics.com]

A first draft of the 802.11n wireless LAN (WLAN) standard was unanimously approved by the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) last week. The approval could prompt vendors to ship compliant equipment in mid-2006, though the final specification will not be ratified for another year. Via [vnunet.com]

Two critical decisions at last week's IEEE 802 meeting in Waikoloa, Hawaii, underscore the different paths possible when implementation choices appear to be at loggerheads. Because the 802.15.3a effort to develop a common ultrawideband standard could find no common ground between the multiband-OFDM and direct-sequence groups, the project authorization request was officially abandoned. Via [commsdesign.com]...

Atheros Communications Inc. today announced the launch of its XSPAN family of wireless LAN technologies for 802.11n, based on a triple-radio RF design. Via [reed-electronics.com]

The US government plans to start licensing spectrum this year for wireless broadband services based on the recently ratified 802.16e WiMAX standard, aiming to stay "one or two steps ahead of other countries," according to an official from the DoC. Via [cbronline.com]

Following successful trials of Wi-Fi/mobile phone convergence last year, services are likely to be rolled out commercially in 2006, new research has predicted. Via [vnunet.com]

Meru Networks Inc. plans to offer in April an intrusion-detection and -prevention system that secures wireless local area networks by scanning for intrusions at the radio-frequency signal layer. Via [informationweek.com]

Marvel and Broadcom both say they're ready to ship chipsets based on the new technology, designed to increase bandwidth and make other improvements over 802.11g. Via [informationweek.com]

The WiMax Forum on Thursday announced the first products to pass official certification and interoperability testing for the fixed wireless broadband standard. Via [eweek.com]

Cellular technology giant Qualcomm said Thursday it has completed its acquisition of Flarion Technologies, which has developed a wireless broadband technology that competes with WiMAX. Via [commsdesign.com]

A high-speed wireless broadband network using Alvarion Ltd. gear and technology is being rolled out in Wisconsin by TDS Metrocom, as the two firms begin eyeing wide regions underserved or not served at all by broadband. Via [informationweek.com]

Using silicon germanium technology allows a high level of integration in the chips, according to IBM. Antennas can be embedded directly into the chipset, helping to reduce system costs. For example, a silicon germanium-based chipset, including receiver, transmitter and two antennas, would occupy the area of a dime, IBM says. Via [cio-today.com]

Internet service provider EarthLink Inc. said Thursday it signed a contract with Motorola Inc. under which the cell phone maker would provide wireless equipment and related services for the initial five cities where EarthLink will set-up municipal wireless fidelity, or Wi-Fi, broadband Internet access networks. Via [businessweek.com]

The move to make more parts of the spectrum available is an effort to stay “one or two steps ahead of other countries” and provide “universal, affordable access for broadband" here at home by 2007, a government official says. Via [informationweek.com]