European Lawmakers are gonna Get Out of the Way of WiFi Usage

The growth of “wireless fidelity,” or Wifi, systems in everything from televisions to computer games to mobile phones has caught the eye of the European Parliament too, where lawmakers are looking at proposals that would expand the concept.

Wifi connections even reach to the Internet and the remote locks on cars and make use of radio spectrum. Despite widespread use, the benefits to industry are not being exploited with all 27 EU states having different management systems. In mid-February, members of the European Parliament (MEPs) adopted a report on radio spectrum calling for common rules and more market-driven policies.

The use of radio spectrum is crucial in any appliance that uses wireless communication, including playing a role in guidance systems for planes, ships, satellites and in the defence industry.

The parliament’s news service reported that, at present, the system for assigning spectrum to interested parties differs from one European Union country to another. This causes delays, extra costs and stifles competition in the market. This is particularly felt by firms who have to compete with US ones - where a single rule for managing radio spectrum exists, the service said.

Last year, the European Commission unveiled proposals that would improve innovation and competitiveness through common rules and a market based approach.

The Parliament’s rapporteur for this issue, Fiona Hall of the United Kingdom, has broadly backed the Commission’s proposals. Her report, adopted by MEPs on February 14, advocates a four step solution:

-Promote competition and innovation that will benefit consumers

-Establish common rules on managing the sector across the EU

-Assign radio spectrum access based on market demand

-Ensure radio transmissions are not restricted by national boundaries

Speaking exclusively to the parliament’s website, Hall spoke of the benefits to consumers: “Despite hard lobbying by certain broadcasters, MEPs supported the idea that all parts of the spectrum could potentially be opened up. This could mean new uses for the spectrum...(especially) services such as wireless broadband for poor and hard-to-reach rural areas,” she noted.

The term “Wifi,” was promulgated by the Wifi Alliance, an organisation made up of leading wireless equipment and software providers with the missions of certifying all 802.11-based products for interoperability and promoting the term Wi-Fi as the global brand name across all markets for any 802.11-based wireless Local Area Networks (LAN) products.

Increasing access to radio spectrum is expected to benefit to consumers through cheaper and more accessible appliances such as mobile phones (especially 3G third generation ones) and other wireless related services.

Opening the EU’s internal market in this sector could also create jobs. As she noted, “The pace of innovation in wireless technology is very fast, but manufacturers can only put their new suitable ideas on the market if they are suitable radio frequencies available. Freeing up radio spectrum ....will allow European manufacturers to fulfill their potential as global leaders in wireless technology, which in turn will create European jobs and growth.”

Wifi has quickly become the next big leap in technology, including on computer games which have become enormously popular amongst young people because they offer more realistic adaptions of human behaviour when playing them.

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Via neurope

One-third of U.S. Internet Users use Wireless Networks to Connect to Online Services

A new survey has revealed that over 33 percent of internet users in United States use wireless networks to connect to online services such as send e-mails, check the latest news or read other things.
The survey, conducted by Pew Internet Project, said that over 20 percent of the internet users have wireless networks connected to their homes, compared to around 10 percent in a similar survey carried out in January 2005. It added that over 72 percent of users who use wireless networks check their e-mails regularly compared to 63 percent of broadband users.
John Horrigan, associate research director at the Pew Internet Project, said that sending e-mails by using wireless networks is easier than using broadband networks.
"We know that 'always on' broadband connections really deepen people's relationship to the Internet; adding 'on the go' to the mix takes this a step further," he observed. "The convenience of wireless access gives people the chance to fire off a quick e-mail to someone while waiting in a doctor's office or check the news headlines on the way to work."
Overall 798 Internet users were surveyed among whom a total of 34 percent said they had logged on to the Internet using laptops, cellphones or hand-held personal digital assistants.
The details of the study are available online at www.pewinternet.org.

Good VoIF, bad, bad accu

Eric Zeman of InformationWeek just posted a brief summary of his in-depth review of WiFi phones and their usage. He lists 5 things everyone has to know before making a decision to opt-in for such a device. There's some disputable points made and, just being optimistic, I'd say there's really just one serious obstacle for adventurous mind wishing to embrace a cutting-edge technology - battery life.
Everyone phone out there have an accumulator so abysmally bad you have to carry its charger with you while making your walk down town. And don't forget to map every available power outlet for future use - you'll need it often!

WiFi helps to build a great user experience at Superbowl

While you're enjoying replays and slow motion repeats on huge video screens, you're probably not paying any attention to the fact that the infrastructure that brings it all together is ought to be very sophisticated. And it sure is!
There's 5 backbone nodes supporting the stadium bowl with 29 more supporting them in the vicinity. Those access points organize a wireless network capable of supporting not only video streaming, but end-user net access, security systems, point-of-sale terminals, etc. And it's flexible enough to have it's bandwidth redistributed as needed.

Broadcom offers single chip supporting Wi-Fi, Bluetooth and FM

Targeted at mobile devices like phones and PDAs, the BCM4325 chip classed as an ultra-low power communications device that won't hog battery power.

Broadcom says the fact that it is made on a 65nm process means it uses 40percent per cent less power when idle than competing solutions.

Broadcom said that it has overcome the interference problems suffered by other products that try to integrate numerous radio technologies in a single chip.

It cites Stuart Carlaw, wireless research director at ABI Research, sa saying the chip is a " landmark achievement that will be welcomed by mobile device manufacturers due to the inherent cost, space and power savings it will enable. "

Robert A. Rango, group vice president of Broadcom's wireless connectivity group, added: "Mobile handsets are rapidly evolving into the central point of personal communications, entertainment and information for large numbers of consumers.

"Our new Bluetooth/Wi-Fi/FM transceiver will help to drive this evolution by dramatically reducing the cost and complexity of these key wireless technologies in innovative mobile and handheld devices."

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Via ComputerActive