Category: Commentary

The resurgence of 802.20 wireless broadband access technology could represent serious competition for WiMAX, although the current momentum behind WiMAX will help, according to analysts. Via [electronicsweekly.com]

A typical WiMAX operation will be comprised of WiMAX base stations deployed in a cellular fashion to provide ubiquitous coverage over a metropolitan area. WiMAX base stations can be connected to the edge network by means of a wireless point-to-point link or, where available, a fiber link. Via [newsfactor.com]

Last Thursday, the IEEE announced that the 802.11n Task Group (TGn) had approved a draft of what may be the most significant new standard to come out of IEEE in the past 10 years. Based largely on a specification developed by the Enhanced Wireless Consortium (EWC), an association of leading network silicon developers, the proposal,...

While WiMax has the strong backing of Intel, the study noted that another type of wireless broadband, FLASH-OFDM, is now owned by Qualcomm and is based on another standard. Via [informationweek.com]

The development of two new wireless standards may make it easier for enterprises to roll out, maintain and use wireless LANs (WLANs). Via [vnunet.com]

When asked for his take on the nascent wireless broadband technology known as WiMax, Brett Galloway put it like this: "WiMax is at the peak of its hype cycle and also at the peak of its confusion," said Galloway, vice president and general manager of the wireless networking business unit at Cisco Systems Inc. in...

Most people are not taking advantage of the freedom offered by laptops with wi-fi built-in, a study has found. Via [news.bbc.co.uk]

Backers of the wireless technology billed as more powerful than Wi-Fi are expected to release their first products this week. Via [redherring.com]

Most Wi-Fi security stories focus on over-the-air data encryption, wireless access control or intrusion prevention. Although these are important issues, there are hidden risks with wireless that may not be well known but still present some serious security challenges. Via [newsfactor.com]

After months of squabbling, the new, faster Wi-Fi standard that got derailed late in 2005 could finally be back on track, say people involved in the standards process. Via [news.zdnet.com]

Sick of paying an extra $10 or so for hotel broadband Internet access? Yahoo and Sheraton’s parent company, Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide Inc., are pairing up to bring free hotel wifi to patrons. The Wall Street Journal reports that Yahoo and Sheraton are testing some wifi lounges at the hotels, dubbed Yahoo Link@Sheraton. Via...

When the highly contentious IEEE 802.11n task group meets in Hawaii next week, it had better be to finalize the minutiae of how to get a 75 percent majority behind the much-awaited next generation of wireless-LAN technology. If it fails, WLAN is liable to lose ground to competing technologies, such as ultrawideband and wired home-networking...

As more and more cities weigh getting into the broadband business, there's no shortage of opinions on the topic. Via [news.com.com]

Several years after the first coffee shops and cafes started installing wireless networks. more merchants and customers are discovering why they're a good idea -- particularly the free ones -- helping to put customer butts in empty seats. Via [informationweek.com]

We’ve heard the promises for years now. As they go, soon there will be two new wireless technologies, one for local area networks and one for personal area networks, that will ensure speeds fast enough to truly network a home. 802.11n and ultra wideband, while more than a glimmer in an engineer’s eye, have been...