Wi-Fi Alliance Now Certifying Devices for Voice Over Wi-Fi Applications

The Wi-Fi Alliance has announced today its plans to make voice a part of Wi-Fi networks, and has introduced a program to certify products. According to the Wi-Fi Alliance, the Wi-Fi CERTIFIED Voice-Personal stamp of approval means a product is capable of making or handling good-quality voice calls in the home or a small office environment. Access points, wireless routers, handsets and laptops can all be tested and certified. more»

Chrysler Adds Wi-Fi to Its List of Options

With Wi-Fi already available in many coffee shops and coming soon to some airplanes, it was only a matter of time before a U.S. carmaker started offering Wi-Fi access for automobiles. Keefe Leung, Advanced Connectivity Strategies for Chrysler says contrary to single broadband cards used with single laptops, turning the entire car into a hot-spot will allow all passengers to access the Internet using any device including mobile and gaming systems. Today, Chrysler introduced UConnect Web, an accessory that provides an in-car hot spot that will be available from Chrysler, Jeep and Dodge dealers starting in September, according to Chrysler's blog site. more»

Wireless at the Speed of Fiber: New Millimeter-Wave Technology Sends Data at 10 Gigabits Per Second

Researchers at Battellea, a research and development firm in Columbus, OH, have succeeded in using off-the-shelf optical telecommunication components to create a faster millimeter-wave device sending data at 10 gigabits per second. Current Wi-Fi and cellular networks operate on frequencies of 2.4 to 5.0 gigahertz. oday there are no commercial wireless systems available that could match the speed of optical fiber capable of carrying tens of gigabits per second. more»

Airline Mobile Broadband Service: Cell Towers or Satellite Systems?

American Airlines, using Aircell Gogo for the in-flight mobile broadband service launched yesterday on flights between New York and San Francisco, Los Angeles, and Miami, and Delta will also rollout Gogo across its domestic flights within about a year. Airlines are starting to offer Internet access, but are falling into one of two camps: airplane antennas that beam down to cell towers, or beam up to satellites. Several airlines are lining up behind service provider Aircell, which has built its own cellular network, erecting towers across the United States, following the win of a coveted FCC frequency license in 2006. more»

Aircell vs. VoIP

Last week American Airlines launched their Aircell wireless Internet access on a limited number of flights. It didn't take long before a few folks tried to make voice and video calls (in violation of Aircell's terms-of-service according to their PR folks), and it didn't take long before someone figured a way around their voice/video blocking efforts. more»

FCC Banning Wireless Devices that Interfere with White Spaces Spectrum

The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has proposed a ban on some wireless microphones and other low-powered devices that operate in the 700-MHz band after the digital TV transition in February, next year. This is part of an attempt to clear any potential interference with the "white spaces" spectrum which will be fully available for "public safety as well as commercial wireless services". more»

India Considers Making Open WiFi Illegal in Terrorist Bombing Aftermath

In response to recent terrorist bombings in India where security officials believe the bombers made use of open wireless (WiFi) connections to communicate, the government is examining the possibility of making unsecured WiFi connections illegal. According to the Economic Times, sources have also said the "new norms may put the onus of educating consumers on telcos and ISPs." Further more "ISPs will also be asked to ensure that customers access the internet over a WiFi connection only through a password." more»

More Airlines Signing Up for Aircell's Wi-Fi Service

Aircell, the company that provides the new Gogo Internet service on some American Airlines flights, is reported to be signing another airline to its service. Aircell management expects there will be some 2,000 commercial airplanes offering Gogo by the end of next year... "American Airlines has installed Gogo on 15 airplanes for flights between New York and Los Angeles, Miami, and San Francisco, and Delta says it'll have Gogo available across its domestic fleet of 330 commercial jets within a year. Delta is expected to expand that service to Northwest Airlines flights if the merger of those two companies goes through as planned..." more»

Scientists in Italy Set Wireless Network Speed Record

A team of Scientists in Pisa, Italy are reported to have set a new world record in wireless data transmission speed. Italian researchers from Sant'Anna University along with the Japanese Waseda University and the National Institute of Information and communication technology in Tokyo, for the "first time in the history of telecommunications" achieved throughput speeds of above 1.2 Terabits per second. Previous record, set in Korea, had been160 Gigabits per second. more»

Google's Larry Page Says Whitespace Tests Were Rigged

Google's Co-Founder Larry Page said today that recent tests conducted by the FCC that determined mobile devices in the so-called "white space" spectrum can cause interference with microphones and TV stations were rigged and shouldn't serve as the basis for government policy. Speaking at a Wireless Innovation Alliance event hosted by the New America Foundation here, Page said "I'm telling you the test was rigged" and urged the FCC to act on a proposal to free up the spectrum, slices of the airwaves set aside so that broadcast stations don't interfere with each other. more»

White Space Spectrum No Threat to Current TV Broadcasting and Wireless Microphones, Says Google

In a post today on Google's Public Policy blog, Senior Staff Engineer, Phil Gossett, addresses complaints from companies such as MTV that TV white space devices would harm their ability to use wireless microphones for performances. From today's post: "In previous postings, we've made the case that the TV "white spaces" could be used to provide broadband internet for all Americans without harming current users of this spectrum (TV broadcasters and wireless microphone users). In a new white paper, we make the case that better use of the white spaces could actually lead to new, vastly superior wireless microphones, rather than pose a threat to live events." more»

Secret Arial Balloon Used During Defcon Finds 1/3 of Wireless Networks Unsecured

In the spirit of cyber security and the popular Defcon conference in Las Vegas, a group was successful in secretly launching a specially rented balloon used for real-estate arial photography, to scan the area for unsecured wireless networks. According to a report by Robert McMillan of IDG, the balloon, called "warballoon" scanned the Las Vegas strip and found that a third of about 370 networks were unencrypted. From the balloon's 15 story height, the group was able to survey about a 7 1/2 mile radius. Defcon director Jeff Moss has confirmed the report and a talk on warballooning adventures is scheduled today. more»

Why Broadband Competition Is As Good As It Gets, Explains Telecom Analyst

Broadband competition in the US is as good as it gets in the foreseeable future and will potentially decrease according to telecom and tech regulatory analyst, Blair Levin. "There's not that much left to be disruptive," Levin said. "White spaces could be in rural areas, and a little bit in broadband, but I don't think so. Other things that people are looking to be disruptive I don't think will happen." more»

Telcos, IT Companies Start $1B Promotion for Mobile Broadband as Alternative to Wi-Fi and WiMax

Some of the world's largest IT and mobile companies have teamed up to create a new category of always-connected 'Mobile Broadband' devices, delivering an alternative to WiFi. According to reports, in the first phase of this initiative lead by GSM Association (GSMA), mobile operators, PC manufacturers and chipset providers will collaborate to pre-install Mobile Broadband into a range of notebook PCs that will be ready to switch on and surf straight out of the box in 91 countries. more»

Over 13 Million Mobile Data Card Users in the US

Though often thought to be the power tool of the business road warrior, wireless data cards that allow laptop and PC users to connect to the Internet over a wireless carrier's cellular network, are quickly becoming a popular means of home Internet access, says new report by Nielsen Mobile. According to the study, 43% of mobile data card users report they most often use their data card at home, while 15 percent say they typically use the card at work. Additionally, one in five (21 percent) data card subscribers take advantage of ubiquitous access by heading outdoors and 9 percent use their card while commuting. more»