TechLuver.com

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.

Tokyo, Japan — On Dec 14, NEC announced the release of its first mobile WiMAX solution, PasoWings. The new generation equipment brings the assurance of ITU and IEEE accreditation and marks a cornerstone in certification of the mobile WiMAX standard.

The first products will be shipped to customers in December, with networks being rolled out in early 2008.

NEC has been shipping equipment worldwide during 2007 and has carried out key trials in Japan, Taiwan and other countries. The Tatung network is one of the first networks rolled out under the Taiwanese government sponsored M-Taiwan project. The network is viewed throughout the WiMAX industry as a medium to prove the excellence of WiMAX technology and as a best in class system.

Through on-going trials and commercial deployments NEC will continue to focus on developed and developing markets worldwide. Supporting both 2.6GHz and 3.5GHz frequency ranges allows the solution to support both mobile and fixed operators. The inherent agility in the system means that fixed and mobile business cases in WiMAX are no longer mutually exclusive.

PasoWings, which provides end-to-end solutions, is comprised of subscriber terminals (CPE) such as PCMCIA cards that are inserted into PCs; wireless access products such as base stations and antennas, and application servers such as user authentication servers or user positional information management servers. More at NEC.

Multi-radio antenna supports WiMAX service rollouts globally including the Sprint Nextel Xohm network.

In anticipation of major WiMAX roll-outs around the globe, OMRON Corp has announced the introduction of a new, global WiMAX band polymer antenna, the HAWK-WMX, for laptops, notebooks, tablet and ultra-mobile PCs. Significantly smaller than competing products, the HAWK-WMX fits under the lid of notebook PCs, enabling computer manufacturers to design smaller and lighter models for highly mobile users.

The HAWK-WMX, which employs the high dielectric polymer material and precision molding technology used in Omron’s award-winning UWB antenna range, measures just 30 mm x 6.6 mm but can deliver uniform RF performance across three global WiMAX bands (2.3-2.8 GHz, 3.3-3.8 GHz and 5.25-5.85 GHz). The HAWK-WMX is WiMAX MIMOi compliant, and with its global band attributes can also be used as a Wi-Fi (IEEE 802.11n) MIMO antenna.

Computer OEMs and ODMs are already supporting multiple wireless protocols such as 3G, Bluetooth, GPS, Wi-Fi and UWB, each of which usually requires a separate antenna. With mounting space at a premium, there is a clear need for ultra-small antennas that will enable products to function in any region with consistently high performance. The HAWK-WMX delivers a small footprint without compromising performance and can replace five notebook antennas for WiMAX and Wi-Fi with three smaller ones.” More at Omron.

KYOTO, Japan –BUSINESS WIRE– Dec 13, ‘07 — Kyocera announced today that it will introduce a new external modem for the iBurst wireless Internet access system that will transfer data at speeds up to two megabits per second (2Mbps), a rate twice as fast as that offered by current iBurst modems. The new product will be available in March 2008.

Kyocera’s iBurst system provides commercial Mobile Broadband Wireless Access (MBWA) services in 11 countries worldwide, including Australia, Malaysia, Lebanon, Norway, Kenya, the United States and Canada. The iBurst concept is receiving industry-wide attention as a full-mobile, all-IP, end-to-end Internet access system.

The iBurst system provides high spectrum efficiency of 32 Mbps total throughput per base station (24Mbps downlink; 8Mbps uplink) over just 5MHz of bandwidth. The new 2Mbps modem will double user data throughput by aggregating two data streams for a single user.

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.

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.

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.

Linksys is set to introduce new media center extenders this month and here’s what Linksys say about ‘em.

It’s great to store photos, music and movies on your computer. But it’s hard to share them with friends and family. What if you could view digital photos, movies and high definition programs on your TV, and listen to downloaded music on your home theater sound system? With the Linksys Media Center Extender you can!

Access digital content and Internet services from your Microsoft Windows Vista Premium or Ultimate Media Center PC and wirelessly stream it to your home entertainment system.

• Easily navigate menus with a single learning remote
• Built-in upscaling DVD player with the DMA2200
• Uses existing high-speed Wireless-N home network

More at Linksys.

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