Municipal Wi-Fi networks are making headway in the United States, with Philadelphia closing a major contract for citywide wireless service, and a couple of California cities announcing their plans for free municipal Wi-Fi. Via [pcmag.com]

Cambridge has found a partner in its effort to provide free wireless Internet access: the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Via [boston.com]

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]

Kyocera Wireless Corp. has signed a strategic alliance with Marvell to develop a dual-mode Wi-Fi/CDMA handset platform. Via [eetimes.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]

Bangalore, the Silicon Valley of India will soon turn into a WiFi Zone that will provide easy and seamless Internet access to enterprise, government and private users. Via [cxotoday.com]

The Chinese government is expected to officially recommend on February 1 that local organizations that receive funding by its Ministry of Information should buy wireless equipment based on a domestic wireless network standard. Via [cbronline.com]

Eyebrows shot up recently when Broadcom Corp. announced sampling of an Intensi-fi chip set for 802.11n. Analysts were again taken aback three days later, when Atheros Communications Inc. announced its XSpan AR5008 family for the same standard. Via [commsdesign.com]

Wi-Fi startup Xirrus raised an undisclosed amount of venture financing from Microsoft-backer David Marquardt Monday to help accelerate sales of its multifunction access point for businesses. Via [redherring.com]

The test is a disaster for the IEEE and 802.11n. The good news is that the new Wi-Fi MIMO technology really does reach throughput speeds of 100Mbps. The bad news: it utterly crushed a neighbouring network that used standard 802.11g. Via [theregister.co.uk]

The success of WiMAX wireless broadband will be decided by government determination to provide broadband access for all, according to the co-founder of Qualcomm, Dr Andrew Viterbi. Via [electronicsweekly.com]

Google has met with mobile gear vendors including Motorola and Sony to explore how their devices might be able to take advantage of municipal Wi-Fi networks, an executive of the search company said Thursday. Via [networkworld.com]

Nokia is holding fire on mobile WiMax until 2008 as it waits for the market to develop. Via [vnunet.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,...

Companies should stay away from next-generation Wi-Fi equipment described as 802.11n compliant, Gartner has warned. Via [vnunet.com]