Touch to transfer, at 500Mbps

Stuart Corner
Sunday, 20 July 2008 10:57

Business IT - Technology

Sony is leading a consortium of 12 Japanese technology companies that has been formed to develop an ultra short range, high bandwidth wireless technology that will enable large files to be transferred between portable devices such as cellphones and digital cameras, just by bringing them close together.

The 'TransferJet' system will use very low power radio signals spread over a very wide bandwidth around the 48GHz frequency to achieve throughput without causing interference ot other systems, but will have an effective range of only about three cms.

The founding members of the consortium are Sony, Canon, Eastman Kodak, Hitachi, Victor Company of Japan (JVC), KDDI, Kenwood, Matsushita Electric (Panasonic), Nikon, Olympus, Pioneer, Samsung Electronics, Seiko Epson, Sony Ericsson (not entirely Japanese) and Toshiba.

The TransferJet Consortium (http://www.transferjet.org ) plans to promote a wide range of products and services incorporating TransferJet technology with the aim of accelerating its adoption throughout the consumer electronics industry. The consortium plans to accept general members, but has given no details so far. It also notes that there are other founding companies whose names will be announced at a later date.

According to its backers, TransferJet wireless technology enables a high speed data transmission rate of 560Mbps, while eliminating the need for complex setup and operation. "Directly touching two compliant electronic products together allows files to be transferred automatically, without the need for an access point. For example, touching a TV with a digital camera enables photos to be instantaneously displayed on the TV screen," they claim. "TransferJet can be used as a universal interface across all consumer electronics devices."

TransferJet's centre frequency will be 4.48GHz at an average power of less than Under-70dBm/MHz. Peak data rate will be 560Mbps and effective throughput 375Mbps.

The TransferJet Consortium plans to develop specifications and guidelines ensuring interoperability between products incorporating the technology, establish licensing schemes and administer the use of the TransferJet logo. The Consortium will also promote the advantages across industries and to consumers.

In the FAQs on the TransferJet website, the only technology with which any comparison is made is FeliCa. "Is TransferJet similar to FeliCa? No, they are based on different technologies. FeliCa is a technology designed primarily for authentication and payment transaction, based on wireless card technology." This is curious since the WiMedia Alliance has been making noises about getting into the high bandwidth space for several years now, and has collaborated closely with the Bluetooth SIG to achieve this.
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