Category: Commentary

Municipal wireless broadband networks may be offering their citizens free or inexpensive Internet access, but they aren't expected to win over the broadband market. While citywide networks may be better than dial-up, they might not match the speed and quality of only slightly more expensive DSL. Telecom and cable companies still have an edge, and...

WiMax seems poised to dominate the mobile wireless market in the coming years. CDMA and 3G chip developers are getting serious interest from thier customers about WiMax. The keys seems to be the diverse ownership of WiMax technology patents, many companies own them, rather than just one as is the case with CDMA. Given the...

Despite the excitement over WiMax, the technology is not expected to enjoy a large initial uptake. According to Motorola Asia-Pacific chief Simon Leung, WiMax users in Asia will number 3.8 million, most of them in Japan and South Korea, by 2009. One concern is how this technology, which promises to be faster and more extensive...

For many cities, a municipal wireless network is no longer just a someday proposition -- in fact, Wi-Fi access is either already in place or in the planning stages for cities across the US. The new question to ask is "who." Who will have access to "free citywide access?" Updating wireless networks to reach all...

In the fast paced world of wireless development, there are a number of companies to watch. It could be using wireless for equipment monitoring, convergance phones, location tracking, customer relations software, or high speed data. Whatever the application there are some interesting times ahead. Via [networkworld.com]

Laptops with wireless routers that keep failing may indicate that the device is suffering from interference. To solve this problem, it is recommended that the owner download and run NetStumbler, which could locate another access point with a strong enough signal or multiple access points on the same channel. Interference could also be caused by...

With city-wide WiFi networks popping up all over the US, it's no surprise that some cities are experiencing growing pains. One city was abandoned by its operator, technical problems plague another, and governmental red tape is slowing down wireless access in several others. Fans of the delays say waiting gives cities a chance for updated...

802.11n seems not to be getting the warm reception that was expected. Reviews of pre-n gear is luke warm to negative. Lack of compatibility, bandwidth drop off at a distance and questions of future interoperability are burning many early adopters. Unless you have a real need for 802.11n now, it's best to wait unit things...

Noise-reducing headphone sales will surely skyrocket if AirCell and JetBlue Airways have their way. Their recently won chunk of air-to-ground communications radio airwaves is earmarked for in-flight Wi-Fi Internet access with possible cell phone usage not far behind. The deal isn't final, however, and obstacles, such as the FCC, RTCA, FAA, and Verizon (current owner...

The dream of municipal WiFi always seems to have one problem; how do you pay for it. Google and Earthlink seem to think that in San Francisco, they can support it through advertising. However in Sacramento, Mobilepro, the company that brought wireless to Tempe, Arizona, seems to think they can't. The trouble seems to stem...

Wireless chip maker Airgo has tweaked MIMO wireless chips to handle up to 240 mbps in thier test home. This is enough bandwidth for up to 3 high definition IPTV channels. The problem they are trying to solve is one of the IPTV last mile. Most homes are not wired up for ethernet, so wireless...

With the increasing use of wireless networks, experts are debating which technology, Wi-Fi or 3G, would be the best option. The Cloud chief operating officer Bobby Sarin believes laptops and devices would soon be able to use both types of networks but it would all depend on the cost. Toby Wright, who heads the content...

There are limited WiMax installations around the UK right now for various reasons. It's getting some serious competition from 3G and alot of potential providers are taking wait and see approach. When will we see WiMax hit it big in the UK. Who knows? Via [vnunet.com]

Manhattan is being blanketed in overlapping hotzones by Telkonet, a Maryland-based ISP, in conjunction with Microwave Satellite Technologies (MST) and its NuVisions trademark. Together they provide Wi-Fi along with voice, video and data services by connecting Gigabit Ethernet to building powerlines then adding high-power access points. By servicing off private property, Telkonet doesn't require access...

Once again, RSA security took a wardrive through downtown London and found open access points belonging to businesses. This is the 5th year they have done this survey and the number of detected networks went from 1,751 to 2,747 with 26 percent wide open. Still not a very complete survey, but it certainly mirrors statistics...