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ETNews of Korea reports on Shinhan Card rolling out Korea’s first ever USB type credit card on Thursday, December 27.

ETNews further writes, “The USB credit card provides the online and contactless payment function and works the post-paid transportation card as well. The built-in IC chip includes the public authorization and the internet credit payment programs.

During the online payment, users do not need to insert the credit card number. Rather, they can pay by connecting the USB to the slot. At the franchise stores with the IC card reader, it enables the no-touch payment.

The card also supports the information inquiry and the automatic log-in service using the public authorization and the built-in internet payment programs. However, it is limited for users to delete or save data so that the USB itself cannot be used as a portable storage device.” More at ETNews.

Dec 19, `07 — FCC has revealed all the tiny details, except the price and availability (obviously), of Creative Lab’s unannounced video conferencing device - inPerson -

To make a video call / chat you’ll need a wired or wireless Internet connection and account with SlightSpeed (provider of Internet video chat and voice calling) or alike(?)

Key Features
• High video quality (up to VGA resolution and 2 Mbps bit-rate)
• Excellent low light performance
• Wide-angle lens
• Dual Microphones with Acoustic Echo Cancellation and Noise Reduction
• Wi-Fi
• Rechargeable, removable Lithium-ion battery
• Auto Login
• Auto Answer
• Screen Saver
• Speed dial
• Call History
• Contact List

Usage Scenarios
• Built-in dual microphones, and audio output to external speakers (not included) with the bundled RCA cables.
• Built-in dual microphones and internal speaker.
• For privacy: bundled microphone and earphones.
• Viewing on a larger screen: video output to TV with the bundled RCA cables.

Network Connection
• If inPerson is connected to the network using both Ethernet and Wi-Fi, the Ethernet connection will be used.
• Wi-Fi networks requiring a webpage login are not supported.

Specifications
Dimensions (W x D x H) 7.6’’ x 5.9’’ x 1.9’’ (194.3 mm x 150.5 mm x 48 mm)
Image Sensor Color VGA CMOS (5.04 ?m active square pixels)
Lens Precision glass lens, F/2.0
Field of View 76° ultra wide angle
LCD (Color Display) 7’’diagonal (16.7 million colors)
Microphone Built-in hardware AEC with dual microphones
Video Resolution Maximum 640 x 480 (VGA)
Exposure (brightness) Automatic, manual adjustment
White Balance Automatic, manual (Auto, Fluorescent, Incandescent, Outdoors) adjustment
Video Resolution 640 x 480 (VGA), 352 x 288 (CIF), 320 x 240, (QVGA), 176 x 144 (QCIF)
Effective Focal Range 30 cm to infinity
Video Codec Support H.264, H.263, H.263+
Audio Codec Support dvi4, ilbc, G.711, G.723.1a, G.729ab, telephony tone signalling (rfc2833)
Communication Protocol SIP/SDP, RTP/RTCP, STUN, ICE
Network Protocol UDP, TCP, ARP, DHCP, SNTP, ICMP
Ethernet Connection RJ-45
Ethernet Network Interface 10/100 Base-T
Wireless Standards Compliance IEEE 802.11b and IEEE 802.11g
Wireless Security WEP (64-bits), WEP (128-bits), WPA-PAK (TKIP), WPA-PSK (AES)
Specific Absorption Rate (SAR) 0.138 mW/g
Power Source AC power adapter:100 - 240 VAC, 50/60 Hz, 5 V/2.4 A
Rechargeable Lithium-ion battery: 3.7 V/3500 mAH
Power Consumption 6 W (typical), 12 W (maximum)

More at FCC: Creative InPerson Details, External Photos, Internal Photos, User Manual (in PDFs)

New-Generation XSPAN Delivers 11n Performance at Price Points To Enable Broad Deployment of Triple-Play Gateways.

SANTA CLARA, Calif — Dec 17, `07 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ — Atheros today announced two single-chip 802.11n solutions developed expressly for the carrier gateway market.

The new dual-band, 2.4GHz/5GHz, AR9220 and single-band, 2.4GHz AR9223 PCI designs join the comprehensive Atheros XSPAN family, the world’s most widely adopted draft 802.11n Wi-Fi solutions.

These latest 802.11n designs provide reliable, market-proven performance at price points that allow carriers to broadly deploy home gateways capable of supporting data, voice and video on a single wireless network.

The AR9220 dual-band, 2×2 MIMO, PCI design is ideal for high-end, multiplay gateways and set-top boxes, which must robustly support multimedia applications requiring uninterrupted throughput — IPTV, HD video streaming, VoIP calls and multi-player online gaming on the 5GHz channel-while using the 2.4GHz band for simple data networking.

This solution provides leading 802.11a/g/n performance, supporting up to 300 Mbps physical data rates and 200 Mbps of actual user throughput on both the uplink and the downlink. With the dual-band design, users will enjoy universal connectivity to any 802.11 device through their gateway or set-top box. More at Atheros.

MOSCOW, Russia — In an effort to bring people faster, lower cost and a truly mobile, data broadband technology, Comstar, Russia’s leading telecomm provider, and Intel Corporation on Tuesday, Dec 11, announced a collaboration to develop mobile WiMAX in Russia.

The joint effort will initially focus on building a city-wide mobile WiMAX network in Moscow. Comstar plans to use its 2.5-2.7Ghz spectrum footprint in the city to build the network and is targeting its commercial launch for late 2008. Intel will drive an ecosystem of the client devices with embedded WiMAX solutions.

Intel is already developing embedded mobile WiMAX solutions for notebook PCs and ultra mobile and mobile Internet devices. Starting in mid-2008 the company will offer its first embedded mobile WiMAX/Wi-Fi module, codenamed “Echo Peak,” with its next-generation Intel Centrino processor technology for notebooks and ultra-mobile devices. A solution optimized for mobile Internet devices with low-power consumption, codenamed “Baxter Peak,” is also expected to be available next year.

Mobile WiMAX is a broadband wireless technology that provides low-cost, multi-megabit speed, and great throughput for accessing large amounts of such data as movies and multi-media content. It is based on the IEEE 802.16e standard and is expected to be deployed around the world starting next year.

Intel will work manufacturers worldwide to develop and test notebook PCs and mobile devices to work with mobile WiMAX networks. A number of PC and device manufacturers have already expressed intent to embed these solutions into systems next year and more are expected in the next several months.

Comstar, part of services conglomerate Sistema, provides voice, data, Internet, pay-TV and other services. It has around 452K broadband Internet subscribers in Moscow. More at Intel.

NEW YORK — Dec 06, ‘07 — JetBlue Airways, Yahoo and Research In Motion plan to offer free, in-flight, Wi-Fi web connections for laptop computers and advanced cell phones, RIM said on Thursday, reports Reuters.

The service will allow passengers to access customized Yahoo mail and Yahoo instant messenger services on their laptops or to access corporate e-mails on Wi-Fi enabled versions of the popular Blackberry device from Rim.

According to a spokesperson for Rim the first JetBlue flight offering the service will be on December 11. more at Reuters.

TORONTO, ONTARIO –Marketwire– Dec 03, ‘07 — Nortel has successfully tested a solution with Qualcomm that will improve the mobile phone experience for users by allowing them to continue conversations uninterrupted and avoid additional roaming charges when a caller is moving between different wireless networks.

The completion of testing between Nortel’s IMS-based Voice Call Continuity (VCC) network solution and the Qualcomm chipset solution that uses their IMS/VCC device client is a major step towards the availability of out-of-the box VCC-enabled mobile phones.

VCC helps decrease mobile phone charges by seamlessly switching voice calls, without interruptions, between WiFi and cellular networks. Airtime and long distance charges do not apply when the user roams into areas of WiFi coverage - which can be in the home, office or some public retail locations.

As an IMS-based application, VCC moves beyond traditional cellular solutions by enabling service providers to offer innovative multimedia services on mobile phones like network-based real-time, multi-player gaming, enterprise service integration and interactive blogging.

“Because Nortel’s VCC is based on IMS, it will allow operators to deploy more multimedia services compared to other FMC solutions,” said Alf Decardenas, general manager, Carrier Multimedia Networks, Nortel.”

Also, Nortel’s VCC solution supports seamless voice calling across a wide range of next-generation technologies, as well as Femto cellular access points that are able to connect to the network using residential DSL or cable broadband connections.

Nortel is a leading contributor to VCC standards and our successful completion of testing with Qualcomm illustrates that we are committed to deploying commercial VCC solutions in the market, making them available to service providers within their current networks or as they evolve to 4G solutions such as WiMAX, UMB and LTE.”

Testing included authentication, calls on cellular/WiFi, in-call handover using manual and automatic triggers and a variety of error cases. Both Nortel and Qualcomm have implemented the VCC standards defined by the Third Generation Partnership Project (3GPP), the global standard for 3G mobile phone systems.

The Nortel VCC network solution is expected to be commercially available from Nortel in the first quarter of 2008. VCC-ready devices are expected to be available from Qualcomm in the market mid 2008.

AMSTERDAM, The Netherlands — Nov 26, ‘07 — Cisco announced today that Amsterdam ArenA, a premier multipurpose sporting and entertainment venue and home to AFC Ajax football club, has turned to Cisco to help make the famous stadium smarter.

With the deployment of Cisco Internet Protocol (IP) technology, the stadium is introducing several innovative services for the 2 million visitors it attracts each year. Visitors will be able to reserve seats from home, get access to real-time travel and parking information, and pay for tickets using their mobile phones. Spectators and sports fans can more easily access all stadium-related services and the organisation can deliver improved visitor service at every event.

Henk Markerink, director of the Amsterdam ArenA said: “The most important goal of the Amsterdam ArenA is to further improve the customer experience, which includes focusing even more closely on the entire service provision chain, from the moment the customer buys tickets, as they travel to the ArenA, the visit itself, to the time he or she is back at home and wants to book tickets again.

We aim to introduce the first services in the middle of next year.”

Integration with radio frequency identification (RFID) technology will make it possible to offer location-specific information to visitors as well.

Markerink added: “The Amsterdam ArenA depends strongly on its transport links. The public transport connections are perfect and the accessibility for motorists is fine, with four motorways nearby and parking for more than 11,000 vehicles. But if the area around the ArenA wants to grow further, then we need to improve mobility.

We also plan to send information to car navigation systems and mobile phones about the best route to take and where to park.”

Cisco has equipped a number of sporting arenas with similar intelligent networks, including the world-famous Bernabéu stadium in Madrid, the Allianz Arena in Munich, Ascot racecourse in the UK and the Misano racetrack in Italy. Thanks to a comparable ‘connected stadium’ infrastructure, the Amsterdam ArenA will be able to extend its reputation as a world-class multipurpose venue and business centre.”

Cisco technology to be deployed at Amsterdam ArenA includes Cisco Catalyst 3750 Series Switches, Catalyst 6500 Series Switches, Aironet wireless access points and CiscoWorks LAN Management Solution. More at Cisco.

Taipei, Taiwan — nov 22, ‘07 — The Bluetooth Special Interest Group (Bluetooth SIG) plans to work with the Wi-Fi Alliance to develop UWB (ultra wideband) over Wi-Fi technology, according to Derek Soh, technical marketing manager for Asia Pacific at Bluetooth SIG, DigiTimes reported.

The DigiTimes further writes, “While stating that details of the cooperation with the Wi-Fi Alliance are still under discussion, Soh said that Bluetooth SIG aims to develop next-generation Bluetooth technology that will be incorporated with NFC (near field communications), UWB and Wi-Fi technologies.

In addition, the development of Bluetooth technology is now inclining toward ultra-low power and UWB technologies, said Soh, noting that the developments will help expand the applications of the Bluetooth wireless technology into the fields of medical and health care, industrial control and automotive control.

New Bluetooth technology with ultra-low power specifications is expected to be revealed in the first half of 2008 with the first devices to be available in the second half. Bluetooth with UWB specifications is expected to come out by the end of 2008 with related devices to be available in mid-2009, Soh indicated.” Digitimes.

White Plains, NY — Nov 19, ‘07 — Nokia announced today that the new Nokia N810 Internet Tablet has begun shipping nationwide in the United States.  With a new slide-out keyboard, built-in GPS, digital audio/video playback and Wi-Fi capability for VoIP calling, the Nokia N810 provides the functionality of a traditional computer but all in one sleek, stylish and portable device.

The Nokia N810 provides a premier, portable internet experience with its large color display, touchpad screen, slide-out keyboard, 400 MHz processor, Mozilla-based browser and up to 10GB of memory (an optional 8GB memory card combined with 2GB internal memory).  To access the Internet, users simply connect via the nearest Wi-Fi hotspot or over Bluetooth on a mobile phone.  Connecting to the Internet allows the user to stay connected with friends and family through VoIP calling, instant messaging and e-mail.  Users can also access their online communities by checking Facebook or Flickr accounts and see what’s new in the lives of those they care about.

With up to 45 hours of music playback, storage for up to 7,500 songs and built-in GPS, the Nokia N810 is perfect for the person on the go.  The Nokia N810 comes with free maps preloaded for users to browse detailed locations, search for street addresses, find various points of interest (POI) as well as nearby Wi-Fi hotspots.  Wayfinder will offer subscription based service for navigation over the Maps application; a 3-year license for $129.99 available in December.

The Nokia N810 is powered by maemo Linux-based OS2008, updatable in December also on the Nokia N800, the earlier internet tablet generation hardware.  The maemo Linux-based OS2008 features a highly customizable user interface and contains various novelties such as a Mozilla based browser with Ajax and Adobe flash 9, Bluetooth headset support as well as enhanced video and audio features. 

The Nokia N810 is available at Amazon.com for $459.99.

Atlanta, GA — Nov 15, ‘07 — Half of more than 3,000 retail stores that a wireless security company secretly monitored at major shopping areas in the U.S. and Europe use wireless data systems vulnerable to hacking, the company said Thursday.

The data that stores routinely transmit on wireless networks include credit card and Social Security numbers and other sensitive customer information.

AirDefense Inc., an Atlanta-based maker of security products for wireless data systems, found that about 25 percent of the stores’ 4,748 wireless access points were exchanging data with no encryption at all to foil electronic eavesdroppers.

Another 25 percent were using an outdated encryption method called Wireless Equivalent Privacy (WEP) that is easily cracked by thieves using widely available tools.

The remaining half of the access points — the connections between wireless devices and computer networks — were using newer encryption methods that are considered far harder to crack.

The six-week undercover project — conducted at shopping areas in Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Los Angeles, New York, San Francisco, London and Paris — attempted to expose security holes in wireless networks that are increasingly used to transmit data inside stores.

Wireless systems are believed to have been the entry points for recent large-scale data thefts at retailers, including a massive heist at discount retailer TJX Cos.

TJX said in March that at least 45.7 million cards were exposed, although recent court filings by banks suing TJX estimate than 100 million were. Canadian investigators concluded in September that TJX had failed to upgrade its encryption from the older WEP method by the time the eavesdropping began in July 2005.

“The bad guys are going to go for the low-hanging fruit, and that’s the wireless networks,” said Richard Rushing, AirDefense’s chief security officer and manager of the survey project.

The most common data security lapses involved mis-configured access points that open backdoors to data. On several occasions, larger retailers had configured access points to work with WPA but had not switched off WEP, the weakest wireless security protocol. In addition, many retailers use their store name in the SSID, the name assigned by the equipment vendor to the wireless network during installation giving away a retailer’s identity. SSID’s can easily be reconfigured but often times are not. More at AirDefense.

SAN DIEGO  —  November 14, 2007 — Qualcomm today announced that it is delivering the first groundbreaking chipset products from the Snapdragon platform to numerous device manufacturers. The QSD8250 and QSD8650 are now shipping to customers worldwide, offering an unprecedented combination of mobile data processing, multimedia performance, 3G wireless connectivity and the lowest levels of power consumption for all-day battery life.

The Company will be demonstrating the Snapdragon platform running both Windows Mobile and Linux to deliver productivity applications, entertainment applications and advanced user experiences at Qualcomm’s New York Analyst Meeting.

The QSD8250 supports HSPA data rates of up to 7.2 Mbps on the downlink and 5.76 on the uplink, with full backward compatibility. The dual-mode QSD8650 supports HSPA, as well as CDMA2000 1xEV-DO Rev. B, with full backward compatibility. The two solutions feature a custom gigahertz microprocessor core paired with Qualcomm’s sixth-generation DSP core running at 600 MHz for unsurpassed mobile performance delivering an instant-on and always-connected user experience.

Snapdragon’s support for HD video decode, 12 megapixel camera, GPS, broadcast TV (using MediaFLO, DVBH-H and/or ISDB-T), Wi-Fi and Bluetooth deliver even greater opportunities for device manufacturers to design compelling mobile products that make the promise of constant, seamless connectivity in an extremely thin and small form-factor a reality. More at Qualcomm.

London, UK – 6th November 2007 – The W960 Walkman phone will start to ship from November 2007, Sony Ericsson announced today. The W960, a potent combination of slim UMTS and Wi-Fi enabled phone with high performance media player, will be available in selected markets across the globe in time for the Christmas season.

The W960 was unveiled in June 2007 and marks a next generation of Walkman phones. With room for up to 8,000 songs and finger-touch navigation around playlists on the large touch screen, the days of taking an MP3 player and a phone with you are definitely over. The 2.6” display also serves as an excellent viewfinder for a 3.2 megapixel camera and as a widescreen for watching video in TV quality.

“The W960 has been generating a lot of consumer excitement since the day it was announced,” says Ben Padley, Head of Music Product Group at Sony Ericsson. “As the next instalment in our hugely popular Walkman phone series, we are confident that this music mix of 3G phone, Walkman player and quality camera will prove to be a hit, and a great complement to the rest of the range.”

Music Desk Stand MDS-65 makes the perfect partner for a hi-fi duet
Sony Ericsson’s Music Desk Stand MDS-65 will also hit stores at around the same time. The perfect musical complement to the W960 and many other Sony Ericsson phones, the MDS-65 lets you charge the phone while experiencing high-fidelity sound on its four full-range neodymium-magnet speakers. And when you’re on the move, the MDS-65 runs on batteries so you can use it anywhere you like – from barbecue to beach. With its sleek, futuristic silver finish, it can’t help but draw admiring glances.

The Sony Ericsson W960 Walkman phone is UMTS 2100-GSM/GPRS 900/1800/1900 and will be available in Vinyl Black from November 2007. The Music Desk Stand MDS-65 will also be available from November 2007.

No indication of Global / European launch/price!

Oct 31, ‘07 — Africa needs to embrace wireless broadband as a potential solution to the digital divide, the chairman of Intel Craig Barrett has said. “It’s cheaper, easier and more efficient to communicate wirelessly,” he told the BBC News website.

Less than 1% of Africans have access to broadband and only 4% use the net. The International Telecommunications Union has predicted that the Intel-backed WiMAX system could become the dominant mobile standard in Africa.

The continent’s geography and political barriers have made it difficult to roll out wired broadband. There is a shortage of fibre cable links between African countries and very few states have extensive copper wire networks for ADSL broadband.

Mr Barrett, who is in Africa as part of the Intel World Ahead programme, said: “In every African country, except some of the more established economies, cell phones vastly outnumber fixed line phones.

According to the ITU, WiMAX networks are currently being employed in nine countries in Africa. More at BBCNews

MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif., Oct. 30, 2007 — Eye-Fi Inc., a company dedicated to helping people navigate, nurture and share their digital memories, today unveiled the Eye-Fi Card — the world’s first wireless SD memory card for digital cameras. The Eye-Fi Card uses home Wi-Fi networks to create an effortless and convenient way for users to send photographs directly from digital cameras to PCs, Macs and online photo and social networking sites. See release entitled “Eye-Fi Announces Support from Seventeen Online Photo Destinations.”

How the Eye-Fi Card Works

During a simple set-up process, users can select from among 17 popular online photo sharing, printing, social networking or blogging sites to share their photographs, and select where on their PC or Mac they want to archive their images. Once the set-up is complete, users can focus on taking pictures and sharing memories — and not on the process of uploading photos from their camera.

Eye-Fi’s free upload service allows users to transfer an unlimited number of photos. It handles full-resolution JPEG pictures and intelligently resizes the images if required by the selected online destination.

Specs:

- Wi-Fi Security: Static WEP 40/104/128, WPA-PSK, WPA2-PSK

- Range: 90+ feet outdoors and 45+ feet indoors

- Storage Capacity: 2.0GB

- Card Dimensions: SD standard 32mm x 24mm x 2.1mm

- Card Weight: 0.1oz

The 2GB wireless SD memory card, which holds approximately 1,000 images, is available now at major online retailers including Amazon.com, Buy.com and Walmart.com for $99.99. Eye-Fi

AR6002 ROCm Chip Consumes 70% Less Power in Active Mode than Competitive Solutions and Near-Zero Power in Standby. 

Santa Clara, CA–Oct. 29, 2007 — Atheros Communications, a leading developer of advanced wireless solutions, today announced the Atheros ROCm single-chip AR6002 family which features breakthrough low-power for mobile WLAN solutions. The game-changing power efficiency delivered by the AR6002 draws near-zero standby power and has nominal impact on battery life even in active mode, both key considerations in the design of Wi-Fi-enabled mobile products.  

The World’s Lowest-Power Mobile WLAN Solution:  

Based on consistently repeated, actual power demonstration measurements, the Atheros AR6002 consumes 70 percent less power than competitive solutions on the market in active mode while downloading content. This substantial power reduction results in longer battery life, enabling significantly more downloads and longer talk time between mobile device charges. For example, the AR6002 solution will take more than 100 hours to deplete a standard 3.7V, 800mAh phone battery in continual VoIP mode. In another application using the AR6002, 200 gigabytes of data can be downloaded before depleting the same battery. 

Atheros’ ROCm family features: 

Pre-installed WLAN driver support for the Microsoft Windows Embedded CE 6.0 operating system;  

The world’s most integrated dual-mode cellular/Wi-Fi reference platforms through its relationship with Qualcomm, enabling new-generation smartphones.  

These engagements provide added support to mobile designers, facilitating rapid design of mobile products featuring high-performance Atheros Wi-Fi. 

This new series of Atheros mobile Wi-Fi solutions is software-compatible with the first-generation, AR6001 ROCm platform which has been designed into numerous leading mobile Wi-Fi products. These include the Eye-Fi wireless memory card, the Fujitsu Siemens Computers Pocket LOOX T830 smartphone, the NEC FOMA /WLAN dual-mode cellular/VoIP handset, N902iL for NTT DoCoMo, digital cameras including the Sony Cyber-shot DSC-G1 and other, yet to be announced products. 

Wi-Fi and Bluetooth Coexistence  

The AR6002 is optimized and validated for coexistence with any certified Bluetooth on the market. In addition to implementing industry standard, 2-, 3-, and 4-wire protocols for Wi-Fi/Bluetooth coexistence in mobile devices, Atheros has developed advanced algorithms employed in the AR6002 that adjust the WLAN communication behavior when in the presence of Bluetooth devices. 

Additional Features 

The AR6002 family offers full-speed, hardware-based, security with the WPA, WPA2 and 802.11i standards and supports the industry-standardized Wi-Fi Protected Set-Up with Atheros JumpStart for Wireless. The solutions also offer a rich feature set to support voice and video through polled QoS extensions (802.11e and WMM). The AR6002 provides full driver support for Windows Embedded CE, Windows Mobile, and Linux-based solutions. 

More at Atheros

It’s not everyday you come across a device designed solely with the gamer in mind. Says D-Link. Finally D-Link has started selling its 802.11 a/b/g/n, Xtreme N Gaming Router.

The company further says, “the D-Link Xtreme N Gaming Router (DGL-4500) is  one of those few devices built especially for gamers. Experience the power of our Xtreme N Duo wireless technology for data transfer rates of up to 300Mbps and Gigabit LAN and WAN Ports to get your game on faster than ever before.”

The router features 4 Gigabit LAN Ports, 1 Gigabit WAN Port, 1 USB Port, 3 Detachable Antennas and OLED display.

Get yours for $239 at D-Link GamerLounge

BROOKLYN, N.Y.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–October 22, ‘07– adNav, a GPS marketing solutions company, announced today its upcoming launch of Boomerang, an ad supported mobile concierge system integrated with GPS navigation. The Boomerang system offers tools and applications such as restaurant and city guides, weather, currency exchange calculators and mobile internet access connected via cellular networks and WiFi to assist an every day traveler to enhance their navigation experience while away from home.

The product will be available at adNav partner hotels and car rental agencies as an added amenity for their customers and guests. Partners’ services will include concierge recommendations and constant connectivity to the concierge desk. Boomerang is currently scheduled to be available first by early November in San Francisco, with launches in Vancouver, Canada and NYC to follow before the end of the year.

Through the integration of an advertising interface, adNav will supply the Boomerang through their partners at a minimal fee to the end user eventually being free. In addition to full functioning voice guided GPS navigation, the Boomerang will include unlimited access to the web through WiFi and cellular networks. Users will have unlimited access to live flight information, weather, language translator, currency exchange calculator, tip calculator and, of course, games.

More at BusinessWire

IRVINE, Calif., – Oct. 23, 2007 – Linksys today announced Ultra RangePlus, its new premium line of home networking products. Ultra RangePlus is a family of products for consumers who are looking to maximize both the performance and range of their wireless networks. The first available products from the family are the Ultra RangePlus Dual-Band Wireless-N Gigabit Router (WRT600N) and the Ultra RangePlus Dual-Band Wireless-N Notebook Adapter (WPC600N).

The WRT600N is designed to transmit simultaneously in the 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz wireless spectrums to provide greater wireless network coverage and transmission speeds. Consumers can connect their traditional wireless networking devices, such as PCs, VoiceOverIP products, and printers, to the WRT600N in the 2.4 GHz spectrum, while utilizing the additional 5 GHz spectrum to optimize the performance of latency-sensitive devices like Media Center Extenders, Set Top Boxes, or gaming PCs.

“Simultaneous Dual-band Wireless-N is an important technology as consumers continue to move more entertainment content throughout the Connected Home,” said Mani Dhillon, director, product marketing, Linksys Consumer Business Organization. “The 5 GHz spectrum is less crowded, offers more channels, and is less prone to interference from neighboring networks, allowing advanced applications like streaming HDTV to rooms throughout a home to become a reality.

More at Linksys

REDMOND, Wash. — Oct. 23, 2007 — Today Microsoft Corp.’s Zune^® team announced that a Zune music player produced in collaboration with Latin Grammy-nominated artists Wisin y Yandel, Machete Music and Wal-Mart Stores Inc. will go on saleexclusively at Wal-Mart retailers Oct. 29 for $199 (ERP). The black, limited-edition Zune will come pre-loaded with the new Wisin y Yandel album, “Wisin vs. Yandel: Los Extraterrestres,” before it is available in stores, and will also feature an exclusive track, music videos, photos and concert footage.

“It was great working with the Zune team to create this custom device and come up with cool ways to promote our new album via their digital music platform,” said Edgar Andino, Wisin y Yandel’s manager. “Connecting with fans digitally is really where music is going, and we’re psyched to have this opportunity.”

The new Wisin y Yandel Zune is being introduced as the band prepares to release its new album on Nov. 6. The collaboration between Microsoft, Wisin y Yandel, Machete Music and Wal-Mart includes the following:

The limited-edition Zune will go on sale exclusively at Wal-Mart retailers Oct. 29 for $199 (ERP) and is available for pre-order at http://www.zune.net/wisinyyandel.

More at Microsoft

YORKTOWN HEIGHTS, NY - 21 Oct 2007: IBM and MediaTek Inc. today launch a joint initiative to develop ultra fast chipsets that can wirelessly transmit a full-length high definition movie to and from a home PC, hand-held device, retail kiosk or television set nearly as fast as a viewer can push their remote control.

The new technology will allow consumers to rid their homes of the cumbersome wires needed to connect their HD-TVs to set top boxes and allow the placement of devices anywhere that is convenient, instead of having to organize furniture and other accessories around technology.

Both companies will combine their expertise in millimeter wave (mmWave) radio technology — the highest frequency portion of the radio spectrum where massive amounts of information can be sent quickly — and digital chipsets to create revolutionary multimedia wireless products. The large bandwidth for data transmission available at the mmWave frequency band enables at least 100 times higher data rates than current Wi-Fi standards.

For example, you could upload a 10 gigabyte file in five seconds with the new technology versus 10 minutes using current Wi-Fi technology. mmWave wireless technology can be widely used at home and office for applications such as multimedia content downloads or uncompressed HDTV streaming from your DVD player. You could wirelessly download and synchronize iPod-like devices with music and videos in seconds.

More at IBM

International Telecommunication Union, an U.N. agency, approves WiMAX technology as new IMT-2000 standard. Portland October 19, 2007 – The WiMAX Forum is pleased to recognize the decision of the Radiocommunication Sector of the International Telecommunication Union (ITU-R) to include WiMAX technology in the IMT-2000 set of standards. This decision is of global importance to operators who look to ITU to endorse technologies before they invest in new infrastructure. The decision to approve the WiMAX Forum’s version of IEEE Standard 802.16 as an IMT-2000 technology significantly escalates opportunities for global deployment, especially within the 2.5-2.69 GHz band, to deliver Mobile Internet to satisfy both rural and urban market demand.

“This is a very special and unique milestone for WiMAX technology,” said Ron Resnick, president of the WiMAX Forum. “This is the first time that a new air interface has been added to the IMT-2000 set of standards since the original technologies were selected nearly a decade ago. WiMAX technology currently has the potential to reach 2.7 billion people. And today’s announcement expands the reach to a significantly larger global population.”

“It gives me great satisfaction to observe that the ITU Radiocommunication Sector continues to be responsive to the most pressing needs of the wireless industry,” said Valery Timofeev, Director of the ITU Radiocommunication Bureau.

With WiMAX technology approved as a new IMT-2000 specification, the WIMAX ecosystem will benefit from greater economies of scale, thus reducing the already low cost to deliver broadband wireless services to include VOIP as well as the multiple services expected from wireless broadband Internet access.

Originally created to harmonize 3G mobile systems and to increase opportunities for worldwide interoperability, the IMT-2000 family of standards will now support four different access technologies, including OFDMA (includes WiMAX), FDMA, TDMA and CDMA.

“3G solutions based upon technologies such as W-CDMA, CDMA-2000, and TD-SCDMA technologies were already included in the IMT-2000 set of standards,” said Resnick. “With WiMAX technology now included, it places us on equal footing with the legacy-based technologies ITU-R already endorses.” The bottom line is that operators across the globe now have the freedom to select the right technology to best meet their business and regional needs.”

More at WiMAX Forum

Web 2.0 Summit 2007, San Francisco, CA - Nokia today introduced the Nokia N810 Internet Tablet, signifying a new phase in portable internet communication.  You have ability to connect this pocket-sized device to the nearest Wi-Fi hotspot or over your Bluetooth mobile phone. The Nokia N810 allows you to make internet calls; check your Google Mail or Facebook Account; watch the latest videos on YouTube or update your blog using the device’s slide-out keyboard along with its stunning touch screen. Its built-in maps and satellite navigation helps you to find your way. It is expected to start shipping mid November with an estimated retail price of 479 USD.

Quick Specs:

• CPU: 400MHz OMAP 2420

• Memory: 128MB RAM, 256MB ROM

• Display 4.13″ 800 x 480 WVGA

• OS: Nokia’s Linux Maemo

• Storage: 2GB Internal

• Connectivity: 802.11 b/g, Bluetooth 2.0+EDR, Mini USB 2.0

• Integrated GPS, Front Camera

• Audio Playbacks: MP3, WMA, WAV, AAC, AMR, AWB, M4A, MP2, Real audio

• Video Playbacks: MP4, WMV, MPEG-4, ASF, 3GP, AVI, H.263, H.264, , Real video

• Battery life: 4 hrs of Movies, Internet access etc, 10 hrs Music only and 5 Days Standby, 2 Weeks Idle-Time

• Dimensions: 5″ x 2.83″ x 0.55″, 7.97 ounces

• Availability: In November for $479

More at Nokia

British Health Protection Agency (HPA) has announced it will carry out “systematic” research into how wireless networks are being used. The research will aim to establish average exposure to the low level radiation emitted by wi-fi access points and wireless links on computers. In its statement, Professor Pat Troop, chief executive of the agency, said there was “no scientific evidence to date” that wi-fi or wireless local networks could have an adverse effect on the health of the general population.

The signals used on wi-fi networks were very low power, said the HPA, and well within guidelines issued by the International Commission on Non-Ionizing Radiation (ICNIRP). “Given this, there is no particular reason why schools and others should not continue to use wi-fi or other wireless networks,” said Prof Troop. The HPA said it was “logical” to consider this research work in light of advice from the agency itself and England’s Chief Medical Officer that children should limit non-essential use of mobile phones.

Digitimes is reporting according to its OEM sources, ” Apple reportedly is considering adopting Intel’s Moorestown MID (mobile Internet device) platform processor in a new iPhone, according to OEM sources.

Intel revealed a Moorestown-based MID product with functions similar to Apple’s iPhone at the recent Intel Developer Forum (IDF) San Francisco. The Moorestown platform is expected to launch in 2009 and Apple is considering developing an iPhone based on it, stated the sources.

Some channel vendors think that if Apple adopts Intel’s platform in its iPhone, it will reposition the MID market place and affect both notebook and handset markets.”

Wired adds to the story, “Moorestown will be based on Intel’s much-hyped 45nn manufacturing process, that could mean your future iPhone will see an exponential boost in power-efficiency (both in active and idle modes) and performance. Good news considering Moorestown will also likely support 3G (HSDPA), Wi-Fi, and WiMax.

Electronista also notes that the processor change would also bring the iPhone’s software closer in step with that of the company’s Mac computer range.”

More at Digitimes, Wired…

AT&T has announced that the AT&T Tilt, the most feature-packed smart device / PDA available in the United States, will debut exclusively through AT&T beginning Friday, Oct. 5. The AT&T Tilt is the first AT&T-enabled Windows Mobile 6 smart device and features an innovative slide-out QWERTY keypad design.

Quick specs:

• Windows Mobile 6 Professional
• 2.8-inch color screen
• 3-megapixel camera
• 3G data speeds from AT&T’s HSDPA
• Stereo Bluetooth 2.0
• MicroSD slot
• An integrated GPS receiver
• BlackBerry Connect support
• Wi-Fi

More at AT&T News Room…