iTWire - Broadcom backs 60GHz ultra broadband networking group

Broadcom backs 60GHz ultra broadband networking group

by Stuart Corner
Friday, 29 August 2008
Page 1 of 2 WirelessHD - one of several competing groups aiming to exploit wireless transmission at 60GHz to shift very high bandwidth multimedia traffic around the home and office - is claiming a significant boost after signing leading wireless chipmaker Broadcom as its latest promoter member. Register now to win a Canon EOS 500D The WirelessHD group was formed in October 2006 by Intel, LG, Matsushita (Panasonic), NEC, Samsung, SiBeam, Sony and Toshiba. It released its first specification in January 2008, based on SiBeam's technology, by which time membership had grown to include 40 early adopter and promoter companies. The group claimed that the technology would enable throughput at up to 4Gbps and said it represented "the first consumer application of 60GHz technology" and would be "suitable for a wide range of devices including televisions, HD disc players, set-top boxes, camcorders, gaming consoles, adapter products, as well as other source devices." Since the launch of its first specification, WirelessHD says it has seen "new adopter interest, application breadth, and emerging technology standardisation that may complement future WirelessHD development," which it expects to accelerate with the backing of Broadcom. According to Lianne Caetano, executive director of WirelessHD. "This interest reflects a pent up need by consumers to share HD content wirelessly in a simple but secure manner." However last month saw the emergence of a new alliance targeting the same market with similar technology. Amimon, Hitachi, Motorola, Samsung, Sharp and Sony formed a special interest group to "develop a comprehensive new industry standard for multi-room audio, video and control connectivity utilising Wireless Home Digital Interface (WHDI) technology." They intend to complete the new standard in 2008 "to ensure that CE devices manufactured by different vendors will simply and directly connect to one another." CONTINUED << First page < 1 2 Next page > Last page - Post your comment >>