Never lost 'em again: WiFi and RFID to the rescue

Ever lost your precious child in the store, on the playing grounds on in the theme park? If not just trust my words - there's nothing outta there that could make you to try and repeat such a situation ever again. Kids tend to get lost and understaffed malls, parks, etc. are struggling and stretching their dwindling task force to the limits just to find them out. But there's some technological improvements which could reduce the workload (and costs involved) drastically - for example installing WiFi access points on location and providing active RFID tags for the visitors. Managing companies could even charge some small change for a tag just to offset the costs.

What's Active RFID tag?
Unlike passive RFID, active RFID tags do not require an external power source or signal trigger, in order to transmit signal. Instead, the tag, which has its own power supply, sends a short wireless signal constantly, which is received by a standard Wi-Fi hotspot. So, the technology enables real-time monitoring at a much greater range.

Schools could use it to track students and ensure that they get home safely, hospitals would never lost their troublesome patients, theme park guides could easily spot a missed kid. And a huge range of services could be built upon the data this kind of monitoring generates. Interactive games, vital marketing statistics, traffic optimisation - possibilities are unlimited.

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Learn more about already implemented solutions at Israel21C

Want to filter out that Nokia WiFi traffic?

But you just couldn't possibly obtain that omnipresent cellphone MAC address? Just dial *#MAC0WLAN# - and you'd be rewarded with an interface statistics useful to monitor, sort and filter cell generated activity.

802.11n draft version 1.10 was approved by IEEE

802.11n version 1.10 is compatible with the products manufacturers have already created.

Major changes:

• Iimplementation of the 40MHz channel has been adjusted to accommodate older 2.4GHz band devices. The new spec calls for the use of two 20MHz bands. Under version 2.0, the system will scan the environment looking for legacy devices that might not understand the wider bandwidth, in which case the 802.11n device will back off and send data over only a single 20GHz band.


• 802.11n device will be able to check to make sure both channels are clear before sending data.


• Devices will be able to send a signal saying it does not want to receive data in the 40MHz mode. In order for a Bluetooth device to send this alert, it must also include wireless LAN, which, for example, the Apple iPhone includes.

While the spec is now much closer to completion, there are still a number of steps that must be taken before final approval.

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As seen at PCAdvisor

Marriage of VoIP and WiFi - voice over wifi

Whether you've already got a wireless LAN or just planning to build a new network from the ground up, think about the costs involved when laying a structured cable system. You can provide your employees with a better and more flexible connection deploying a range of WiFi hotspots and now you can have not only an internet access but a phone service available too.

VARBusiness recently published an article describing both benefits and obstacles on the road to true wireless office space. Lack of integration and standards supports as well as a bit on the high side prices remains major problems while an expanding presence of voice over ip phones supporting wi-fi access and their respective range of features starting from simple calling to instant messaging, presence awareness, e-mail and Web access, etc are the main driving power behind the VoFi expansion.

New Intel Wi-Fi chipset will be unveiled next Tuesday

Originally scheduled for Q2 launch, Intel's new WiFi chipset code-named "Kedron" will be unveiled at an event next Tuesday, reported TG Daily.

Kedron is the wireless component and was intended to be introduced in tandem with the new mobile chipset code-named "Santa Rosa" in Q2 of this year. Kedron will be based on the draft-n wireless standard and promises to increase data transfer bandwidth as well as range of wireless devices.

Kedron has been shipping to vendors for a while, which suggests that Intel will actually be able to show Kedron in available products next week. Kedron will be officially named "WiFi Link 4965 AGN". There will be a Kedron part without draft-n capability ("WiFi Link 4965 AG") as well.

Santa Rosa will succeed Intel's Napa64 platform and bring the ICH8-based mobile 965 chipset, code-named Crestline, with support for FSB800 and the firm's Active Management Technology (AMT). The platform will get four new processors with Merom core, ranging from the Core 2 Duo T7100 (1.8 GHz) to the Core 2 Duo T7700 (2.4 GHz). Pricing for the processor will start at $209 for the T7100 with 2M of L2 cache and reach to $530 for the T7700 with 4 MB L2 cache.

The Santa Rosa announcement will also include Intel's flash cache technology "Robson", which will offer 512 MB or 1 GB of motherboard-integrated NAND flash memory.

Are you concerned of free WiFi security issues? Avoid ad hoc networks!

There's three easy steps to ensure your safety while using public wi-fi hotspots in airports, pubs and shopping malls.

1. Use you network settings to check whether there's ad hoc networks available - the only way to spot a difference between ad hoc and normal wifi access points is to look at the networking icon. An ad hoc network's icon consist of several PCs; a normal one is made up of one PC.


2. Remove any unfamiliar networks from the Preferred networks list


3. Disable any automatic connections to wireless networks

Forget GPS, track you position with WiFi pinpoint service

Next time upon connection to your favourite WiFi hotspot don't forget to check out a new service with a social-networking flavour - Plazas. It will help you not only get your bearings - position coordinates, photos and comments previous users made about the place, but discover who's using wi-fi near you, maybe even the same access point so you could walk-by and say "Hello".
And if it so happens you've just discovered a new previously unknown hotspot - give community some help - login and share that location with everyone else. You'd be rewarded with Karma points whatever that is.
Yep, I' say that's a favourable scenario - you're on your own in unknown city stalking some free wi-fi to check mail and send some words back to a girlfriend, and voilà - you've got a link and Plazas inform you that there's a hot blonde accessing the Net couple of steps down the road. So naturally you log a position of that dark AP you're linked with now, receive some karma boost and drop by a girl with a nice pick-up phrase like "Hi, there's better waves over there, I've just discovered that place, wanna join me?". Give Plazas a try.

Hotspots directory for busy pros working away from their cubicle

More than 12000 WiFi hotspots in more than 2000 cities worldwide listed on Forbes.com now. It was brought to you by AnchorFree in attempt to help those working off site to easy and efficiently find free Wi-Fi access and a free security solution to gain protection from hackers.

The list can be organized by Location details and Category (i.e. pub, hostel, avenue etc).

Forbes.com is carrying AnchorFree’s list of the largest global network of free Wi-Fi hotspots in the world, in addition to offering its Hotspot Shield security solution (a free service to protect PC and Apple users from hackers at wireless hotspots) and the AnchorFree “wiPod” application, which allows users to download lists of local hotspots to the “Notes” section of their iPods.

New version of centralized management and security tool (WiFi Manager) released - 5.1

AdventNet released an update of its access points management suite - WiFI Manager 5.1 Here is a direct link - download WiFiManager 5.1.

What WiFi Manager can do for you:

• Rogue Access Point discovery and blocking or enforcing "No Wireless LAN" Policy.


• WiFi Security - Identifying vulnerabilities, shielding against intrusions and attacks.


• WiFi Monitoring - Access Point usage, associations, interference, traffic, service status.


• WiFi Management - configuring the Access points, managing their firmware.


• Troubleshooting the problems.

List of changes in the new release is limited to extension of supported hardware and some performance tweaks.

Your nearest WiFi mesh access point will spawn a twin by 2010

Wi-Fi meshing, which allows wireless access nodes to achieve a longer range by using each other as repeaters, is becoming increasingly common in several markets, reports In-Stat (http://www.in-stat.com). More than 50,000 Wi-Fi mesh AP unit shipments are expected in 2006, with almost 100,000 unit shipments expected in 2010, the high-tech market research firm says. Incompatibility among systems, however, is a potential hurdle for the growth of the technology.

“There is no industry standard for mesh networking, yet, so interoperability between mesh vendors continues to be problematic; customers must purchase their Wi-Fi mesh networking gear from one vendor,” says Gemma Tedesco, In-Stat analyst. “However, Wi-Fi clients are standardized and prolific, providing a ready and waiting installed base for Wi-Fi mesh networks.”

Recent research by In-Stat found the following:
Although Tropos has the largest mindshare in municipal mesh networking, Nortel, Strix, BelAir, and SkyPilot made aggressive pushes into the market in 2006.
Cisco is perceived as a wildcard in this market, as it just launched Wi-Fi mesh APs in late 2005, but it is using its strong IT channels into businesses and government networks.
Throughout 2006, most Wi-Fi mesh vendors tied their growth to municipal network build-outs.

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More at BusinessWire

Exceptional growth of wireless broadband access technology predicted by Intel

Intel met with key UAE media today to share its vision on key IT trends of 2007. The silicon giant specifically predicts that WiMAX will be gearing up for unprecedented growth due to advancement in wireless broadband technologies, as well as emergence of innovative applications and business models.

“Wireless broadband access technology will gain exceptional growth due to advancement in wireless data technology, falling price points and success of initial 3G roll out and WiFi / WiMAX spread,” said Abdul Rahman Jarrar, Intel’s Regional Manager, Government Affairs, META. “Global trend looks very positive. This positive surge is likely to be accompanied by dramatic changes in the industry value chain, with emerging wireless network technologies like WiMAX, WiFi and MBWA.”

With the wireless community increasingly shifting its focus from voice to data services, the wireless data communications market is expanding substantially. Further broadband is expanding rapidly in both mature and emerging markets, although broadband market is still largely dominated by cable and DSL, broadband wireless and fiber networks are gaining ground.

“These new trends are changing the industry landscape and creating many new and exciting investment opportunities in existing as well as unexplored market segments,” added Jarrar. “Given the complexity of the challenges and exceptional opportunity, all the stake holders need a clear assessment of the wireless broadband access technology, and industry’s future.”

The broadband wireless market represents the intersection of the burgeoning broadband and mobile markets and can be disruptive as a new channel as well as can add value to existing channels by enabling both low cost access and growth in reach. As the popularity of broadband wireless access grows, Intel will continue to play a key role in speeding up efforts to create standards, technology and conditions that allow wireless network users to have access to multiple networks seamlessly at a very affordable price.

Intel will play a key role in accelerating accessibility in META in 2007. This will be done through the Intel World Ahead Program, an initiative in which Intel is investing more than USD$1 billion globally by the end of the decade to enhance education and accelerate access to computers and the Internet in developing communities.

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As seen at maktoob

Be smart - encrypt your traffic!

Wireless networks — even the WiFi connections in your home that come with the Internet service provider — can be a wide transmitter of whatever you are sending over the Web.

Be careful about online shopping over WiFi or sending personal information unless you've taken great care to encrypt your wireless network.

"It depends on how you set up your wireless connection — because with wireless, anyone wandering past your house can pick up the signal," Zulfikar Ramzan, senior principal researcher with the Symantec Security Response Team, said. "Use the encryption offered by the wireless provider or the router provider."

All of the major providers offer security features.

"A second, subtle thing to be aware of is it is very easy to connect to someone else's wireless router by accident and not know it," Ramzan added. He said some hackers will purposely set up wireless routers in frequently traveled places just to take advantage of this common mistake.

"Anyone can put any name on a wireless router provider," Ramzan said, and some of those could be hackers using the connection to collect information.

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More about data secutiry here.

Smartscreens Media Device - clever name for a WiFi-enabled media player

Want a hard drive based, wi-fi enabled Mp3 player but, would sooner sell your mortal soul than buy a Zune from that Bill Gates guy? All hope is not lost.

This new player comes from an unlikely source, AOL (parent company of this blog) and combines iPod-esque looks (well, kinda.. 'cept, what's up with those buttons?) with a 30GB hard drive, PlaysForSure playback, Wi-fi, bluetooth headphone support and the ability to listen to streaming music while in range of an 802.11g network.

The device also plays MPG4 and WMV video files, and, get this, is Linux based. Sure, you might not spend long nights writing new widgets and figuring out better things you can do with the built in Wi-fi but, someone will.. and when they're done, they'll probably release the source code. No word yet on how easy or hard software tinkering is on the device.

You'll have to wait though. The device won't be available until Q2 or even Q3 of this year, and no pricing information is available as of yet.

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As seen at DigitalMusic

Wifi Network Tracing by Martin Sauter

Martin Sauter started to post a milti-part tutorial on wireless network tracing. Part 1 is about the setup - Windows, Wireshark, a Linksys WRT54, OpenWRT and Kismet.

Taking traces in a Wireless LAN can be quite a tricky thing if you are using Windows. Except for a few expensive programs which can do the job, other free tools like Wireshark can only trace what the network driver forwards to the operating system. Unfortunately, Windows network drivers only forward pseudo Ethernet frames to the OS and hide all the nitty gritty Wireless LAN details. An alternative to tracing a Wireless LAN with your PC is to let an off the shelf Wireless LAN access point record all packets and save them to a file which can then be analyzed on the PC. Cost of the solution: 60 euros and a bit of time to set it up.

The Wifi tracing environment consists of the following components:

• A PC or notebook running Windows with an Ethernet port.


• A Linksys WRT54G or WRT54GL wifi router (picture above, for details see below). The WRT54G sells for around 50-60 euros on eBay. Several hardware versions exist, not all of them are suitable. For details, see the next blog entry.


• OpenWRT, a free Linux operating system for the wifi router (open source)


• X-WRT, a better web interface for OpenWRT (open source)


• Kismet for OpenWRT (open source)


• CIFS driver for OpenWRT to be able to mount a directory of your windows computer on the router for file export (open source)


• Wireshark for Windows (open source)


• Putty for Windows, a free telnet/ssh shell for Windows

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As seen at Martin's Mobile Technology Page

Metro WiFi requires less energy than cellular

WiMAX and metro Wi-Fi are both more energy cost effective than cellular, according to a report by ABI Research. The observation comes into stark relief against the backdrop of rapidly-increasing energy consumption as carriers move to high-data-rate mobile broadband access.

For those broadband networks, energy costs represent the third most significant operating expense (OPEX) for cellular carriers, and fluctuating energy costs are a significant area of concern for business planners, according to the report entitled, "Energy Efficiency Analysis for Mobile Broadband Solutions." The move to higher data rates means that the energy required per subscriber arising from increasing data uptake will push per-subscriber energy OPEX for cellular solutions past acceptable barriers—unless carriers move from a traditional cellular-only approach to one that integrates WiMAX and metro Wi-Fi.

Stuart Carlaw, director of wireless research at ABI, said "From a pure coverage perspective WiMAX is twice as energy-cost-effective and metro Wi-Fi is 50 times more energy-cost-effective than WCDMA. When data traffic is factored into the equation, WiMAX can accommodate 11 times today's average data consumption and still be more energy-cost-efficient compared to WCDMA or HSDPA.

A recent ABI study found that the total energy consumption arising from mobile broadband service delivery is forecast to grow from 42.8 billion KWh in 2005 to 124.4 billion KWh in 2011. The Asia Pacific region will account for the majority of this growth.

The new report provides a theoretical and real-world analysis of the relative costs of deploying WCDMA, HSDPA, CDMA2000 1xRTT, EV-DO, WiMAX and municipal Wi-Fi. It offers strategic recommendations to the industry as to the best ways of combating rising power consumption costs.

- Patrick Mannion
Mobile Handset DesignLine

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As seen at Engineering Times India

Less steps to security

Wi-Fi Alliance has devised a simplified approach claimed to halve the number of steps required and has certified the first products incorporating it.

According to the Wi-Fi Alliance, many different devices are eligible for the certification, known as Wi-Fi Protected Setup. These include PC, televisions, stereos, and gaming consoles, as well as phones.

The first release of the Wi-Fi Protected Setup specifies a push-button technique or entry of a PIN (personal identification number) to network Wi-Fi devices. Support for methods using Near-Field Communication, in which a user simply touches a token or card to a device, as well as USB flash drives, is planned for later in the first half of 2007.

According to Atheros, one of the manufacturers whose products have been certified, its implementation of Wi-Fi Protected Setup "allows consumers to protect computers, routers, wireless printers, home entertainment devices and mobile devices - such as dual-mode handsets, cameras and VoIP phones.[by pressing] a designated button on either device and [within] two minutes...the button on the other device. The easy-to-use process confirms connectivity with a flashing LED on each networked device."

Wi-Fi Alliance managing director, Frank Hanzlik, claimed that "Wi-Fi Protected Setup reduces by half the number of user steps required to set up a network, enabling Wi-Fi to be more easily installed across a range of consumer devices. "Wi-Fi has quickly become one of the most pervasive wireless technologies, but consumers have told us they want it to be easier to set up and protect," Hanzlik said.

A market research firm, Parks Associates, predicts that 90 percent of networked homes will use Wi-Fi by 2010, so it's critical that manufacturers make it as easy as possible to configure."

According to Atheros, nearly half of the Wi-Fi users today experience moderate to high difficulty in setting up secure home networks, and as many as 40 percent of consumers leave their networks completely unsecured.

The first products to become certified for Wi-Fi Protected Setup are:

- Atheros AR5006X 802.11a/b/g wireless network adapter
- Atheros AR5002AP-2X Concurrent 802.11a and 802.11b/g dual-band WLAN access point
- Broadcom BCM94704AGR 54g dual-band access point reference design
- Buffalo AirStation wireless-A&G high power access point WHR-HP-AMPGV
- BUFFALO AirStation wireless-A&G high power notebook adapter sTA:WLI-CB-AMG54
- Conexant CX94515 ADSL2+ gateway
- Intel(R) PROSet/wireless software version 11.1
- Marvell 802.11a/b/g wireless USB client
- Marvell TopDog draft 802.11n access point
Ralink Technology RT5201U (802.11a/b/g USB) Packet Overdrive.


A white paper entitled "Wi-Fi certified for Wi-Fi Protected Setup: Easing the User Experience for Home and Small Office Networks" providing a detailed look at how Wi-Fi Protected Setup works is available for free download at the Wi-Fi Alliance web site www.wi-fi.org.

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As seen at iTWire

WiFi-capable gas pump

Fuel dispenser manufacturer Dresser Wayne calls it the Ovation iX. We just call it "alt fuel." But whatever you call it, it's one of the few auto-centric devices at CES to earn a double-take — an Internet-ready WiFi-capable gas pump (complete with 15-inch touchscreen and speakers) that lets customers update their playlists as they fill up their tanks.

The CES demo entailed buying audio files from the Dresser Wayne fuel pump, downloading them to an Alpine Electronics IVA-W200 stereo and navigation system in a Lincoln Navigator, and (we assume) blasting them mercilessly à la Operation Just Cause before the awe-struck conference-goers. (If it wasn't Public Enemy, it should have been.) The whole thing is the product of a partnership between Dresser Wayne and the Microsoft Automotive Business Unit, which is apparently not content to Sync your Ford.

But wait! There's more!

As GizMag (via BusinessWeek) breathlessly reports:

In addition to offering real-time Internet news headlines, traffic information and weather reports on its VGA screen, the fuel dispenser also provides customers with customized, full-motion video promotions and specials while they fill up. Consumers even have the option to print coupons for special offers, such as for a discount on a cup of coffee or even a much needed oil change.

"Customized, full-motion video promotions and specials!" Finally, a way to fill that existentially challenging interval between the insertion of the nozzle and the "click" of plenitude. Dresser Wayne claims that "consumers can now be more productive" thanks to this "new world of interactive fueling." How can you doubt it?

Available now for petroleum retailers in North America. Soon to be available worldwide. Be the first on your block.

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As seen at Wired.Blogs

WiFi isn't bad for health after all

"Wi-Fi cards are quite low power," says John Moulder, PhD, Professor of Radiation Oncology at Medical College of Wisconsin, and Director of the Center for Medical Countermeasures Against Radiological Terrorism. "Their peak power is comparable to, or somewhat below, that of mobile phone handsets. They also have very low duty cycles; they aren't transmitting most of the time. In most environments, the Wi-Fi signal is below (often far below) other RFR signals."

The Times of London quotes Dr. Michael Clark of the HPA (a UK health agency similar to the American CDC) as saying, "When we have conducted measurements in schools, typical exposures from Wi-Fi are around 20 millionths of the international guideline levels of exposure to radiation. As a comparison, a child on a mobile phone receives up to 50 percent of guideline levels. So, a year sitting in a classroom near a wireless network is roughly equivalent to 20 minutes on a mobile. If Wi-Fi should be taken out of schools, then the mobile phone network should be shut down, too - and FM radio and TV, as the strength of their signals is similar to that from Wi-Fi in classrooms."

Among the scientists doing research on the true amounts of Wi-Fi's emitted radiation is Dr. Kenneth Foster, a professor of bioengineering at the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia. Last year, Dr. Foster, who has published 100 papers in peer-reviewed journals, conducted a study into RF levels around the globe.

"In virtually all the environments I surveyed, the RF signal from WLANs was a small fraction of the total RF fields in the environment," Foster says. "Other sources included mobile base stations, and broadcast radio and TV stations in the region."

While the study was not designed to assess health risks to humans, the measurements taken by Dr. Foster provide clear data on real world exposure levels (versus lab environments or estimates.) Based on the levels he consistently detected, Dr. Foster concludes that there is no cause for concern.

"No expert review of the literature (by WHO or national health agencies) have indicated any cause for concern, nor do I know of any scientific papers in standard peer-reviewed journals that offer any evidence that would lead to concern," says Foster.

The Wi-Fi Alliance, whose primary mission is promoting interoperability between Wi-Fi products, has given some attention to the issues of health and safety. Its official position is that "although questions have been raised, there is no scientific evidence that these low-power wireless communications devices pose any health threat to the user or the general public."

Moulder, who has been studying RFR biology for nearly 25 years, concurs. "I know of no confirmed epidemiological evidence or experimental evidence that RFR exposures this low are of concern, and I know of no theoretical basis for thinking that such exposures would cause biological effects," he says.

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Story continues at Wi-Fi Planet

Wi-Fi capable tablet by Nokia: N800

Las Vegas, USA - At the CES conference in Las Vegas today, Nokia introduced its next generation widescreen Nokia Nseries multimedia computer, the Nokia N800 Internet Tablet. The sleek Nokia N800 combines a truly personal Internet experience with easy wireless connections, high resolution display and support for a wide variety of Internet applications. The Nokia N800 Internet Tablet has been optimized for enjoying the familiar Web experience anytime, anywhere.

Abstract from the specs:

Size
Volume: 137 cc
Weight: 206 g
Length: 75 mm
Width: 144 mm
Thickness: 13 (/18) mm

Display
High-resolution (800x480) touch screen with up to 65,536 colours

Memory
RAM 128mb
Storage: Flash 256MB, 128 MiniSD with extender included in sales package
Two internal memory card slots, compatible with SD, MicroSD, MiniSD, MMC, and RS-MMC. Compatible with cards up to 2GB. Configurable up to 4GB.

Key applications (additional applications available)
Web Browser (Opera 8) with Flash player (v7)
Internet calling with video
Instant Messaging
Email
Media player
Internet Radio
RSS Feed Reader

Connectivity
Auto-connection to saved Wi-Fi hotspots or through Bluetooth compatible phone
Input methods
Full screen finger keyboard
On-screen keyboard
Handwriting recognition