Click here to learn
about this Sponsor:
Home  |  News  |  Articles  |  Polls  |  Forum

Keywords: Match:
UWB ready for blast-off at last?
Mar. 10, 2008

After overestimating the early market for ultra-wideband (UWB) in 2006, ABI Research now says the short-range wireless networking technology is finally ready for take-off. Shipments of UWB in laptops, periphals, consumer electronics devices, and eventually mobile handsets will reach 400 million by 2013, forecasts ABI.

UWB shipments in 2007 were limited to only 40,000 units, ABI said, in part due to delays caused by a standards war. Senior analyst Douglas McEuen explained that there's been "a shakeout from three competing flavors of the technology to one."

Now that an official standard has been ratified, the UWB market could hit a million units this year, says ABI, with North America leading the market. Early implementations will be deployed in laptops and computer peripherals, where the technology will help reduce USB cable clutter while supporting large multimedia file transfers. Lowering of costs will bring an eventual migration to digital cameras and camcorders, HDTVs, portable music devices, and eventually, mobile handsets.

Stated McEuen, "Real market acceleration will only occur when UWB debuts in mobile handsets, where it will be used -- possibly bundled with Bluetooth -- to transfer music, pictures and video files. Even a small handset market penetration will deliver huge numbers."

UWB was designed as a low-power, broadband USB-replacement and home media networking technology designed for optimum use at ranges of less than 10 meters (about 33 feet). Using a wide band of the radio frequency spectrum and pulsed data delivery, UWB can transmit a much larger amount data, compared to WiFi, Bluetooth, or wireless USB (WUSB). Actual UWB speeds will depend on the implementation, but the technology has been demonstrated at very short range at bandwidths of up to 256Mbps, with theoretically possible speeds up to 480Mbps, matching the maximum rate of wired hi-speed USB 2.0. Meanwhile, of course, USB 3.0 is fast-approaching, promising up to ten times greater bandwidth.

Some early UWB modules have been made available with select Lenovo, Dell, and Toshiba PCs and notebooks, but "true silicon integration will take more time," says the study. Meanwhile, it says "hub and dongle" UWB configurations are already appearing that will enable users to retrofit PCs and peripherals.


UWB-equipped set-top box from Celrun
(Click for details)


In January 2007, Sigma Designs released a Linux-compatible Mini-PCI Windeo Reference Design Kit based on its Windeo UWB chipset (see below). In March of that year, Sigma joined with Japanese IP set-top box (STB) specialist Celrun to demonstrate the Celrun 900H (pictured above) a Linux-based STB based on the Windeo design.


Sigma's Windeo UWB chipset
(Click to enlarge)


Availability

More details about ABI's "Ultra-Wideband Connectivity" study and report may be available here.



Related Stories:


(Click here for further information)


FUEL Database on MontaVista Linux
Whether building a mobile handset, a car navigation system, a package tracking device, or a home entertainment console, developers need capable software systems, including an operating system, development tools, and supporting libraries, to gain maximum benefit from their hardware platform and to meet aggressive time-to-market goals.

Breaking New Ground: The Evolution of Linux Clustering
With a platform comprising a complete Linux distribution, enhanced for clustering, and tailored for HPC, Penguin Computing¿s Scyld Software provides the building blocks for organizations from enterprises to workgroups to deploy, manage, and maintain Linux clusters, regardless of their size.

Data Monitoring with NightStar LX
Unlike ordinary debuggers, NightStar LX doesn¿t leave you stranded in the dark. It¿s more than just a debugger, it¿s a whole suite of integrated diagnostic tools designed for time-critical Linux applications to reduce test time, increase productivity and lower costs. You can debug, monitor, analyze and tune with minimal intrusion, so you see real execution behavior. And that¿s positively illuminating.

Virtualizing Service Provider Networks with Vyatta
This paper highlights Vyatta's unique ability to virtualize networking functions using Vyatta's secure routing software in service provider environments.

High Availability Messaging Solution Using AXIGEN, Heartbeat and DRBD
This white paper discusses a high-availability messaging solution relying on the AXIGEN Mail Server, Heartbeat and DRBD. Solution architecture and implementation, as well as benefits of using AXIGEN for this setup are all presented in detail.

Understanding the Financial Benefits of Open Source
Will open source pay off? Open source is becoming standard within enterprises, often because of cost savings. Find out how much of a financial impact it can have on your organization. Get this methodology and calculator now, compliments of JBoss.

Embedded Hardware and OS Technology Empower PC-Based Platforms
The modern embedded computer is the jack of all trades appearing in many forms.

Data Management for Real-Time Distributed Systems
This paper provides an overview of the network-centric computing model, data distribution services, and distributed data management. It then describes how the SkyBoard integration and synchronization service, coupled with an implementation of the OMG¿s Data Distribution Service (DDS) standard, can be used to create an efficient data distribution, storage, and retrieval system.

7 Advantages of D2D Backup
For decades, tape has been the backup medium of choice. But, now, disk-to-disk (D2D) backup is gaining in favor. Learn why you should make the move in this whitepaper.

 


Got a HOT tip?   please tell us!
Free weekly newsletter
Enter your email...
Click here for a profile of each sponsor:
PLATINUM SPONSORS
GOLD SPONSORS
(Become a sponsor)

ADVERTISEMENT
(Advertise here)

Check out the latest Linux powered...

mobile phones!

other cool
gadgets



BREAKING NEWS

• Wind River buys Mizi Research
• Home automation panel runs Poky Linux
• "Green" integrated PC runs Linux
• Intel acquires Linux distro developer
• Linux Space Cube ready for blast-off
• Nettop is "almost fanless"
• Tutorial sounds alarm for Nokia tablets
• CG Linux distro supports multicore MIPS64
• Embedded Linux guide updated
• Patent dispute threatens GPS imports
• MIDs offer Atom, HSDPA
• Software connects Linux MIDs to PC media
• Linux radio keeps it simple
• Motorola U9 takes fashion "beyond thin"
• Location-aware social net app targets MIDs


Most popular stories -- past 90 days:
• Open source phone goes mass-market
• Updated! Linux Mobile Phones Showcase
• World's cheapest Linux-based laptop?
• Garmin Nav devices run Gnome Linux
• First Atom-based notebook runs Linux
• ARM9 board boots Debian in 0.69 seconds
• Open source camera records geotagged video to SATA HDD
• Linux-friendly Beagle fetches $150
• "PDA phone" runs Linux
• Intel offers $80 "Little Falls" Atom mobo
• Netflix Player runs Linux


DesktopLinux headlines:
• Summit debuts for Linux end users
• "UbuntuLite" reviewed
• Linux in the SME
• Linux: not yet photo-friendly
• Linux to gain anti-virus software
• Linux gains backup utility
• Testing Lenny
• HP offers Linux on low-end mini-notes
• Dell shipping five Hardy Heron systems
• IBM pushes "Microsoft-free" desktops


Also visit our sister site:


Sign up for LinuxDevices.com's...

news feed

Home  |  News  |  Articles  |  Polls  |  Forum  |  About  |  Contact
 

Ziff Davis Enterprise Home | Contact Us | Advertise | Link to Us | Reprints | Magazine Subscriptions | Newsletters
Tech RSS Feeds | White Papers | ROI Calculators | Tech Podcasts | Tech Video | VARs | Channel News

Baseline | Careers | Channel Insider | CIO Insight | DesktopLinux | DeviceForge | DevSource | eSeminars |
eWEEK | Enterprise Network Security | LinuxDevices | Linux Watch | Microsoft Watch | Mid-market | Networking | PDF Zone |
Publish | Security IT Hub | Strategic Partner | Web Buyer's Guide | Windows for Devices

Developer Shed | Dev Shed | ASP Free | Dev Articles | Dev Hardware | SEO Chat | Tutorialized | Scripts |
Code Walkers | Web Hosters | Dev Mechanic | Dev Archives | igrep

Use of this site is governed by our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy. Except where otherwise specified, the contents of this site are copyright © 1999-2008 Ziff Davis Enterprise Holdings Inc. All Rights Reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part in any form or medium without express written permission of Ziff Davis Enterprise is prohibited. Linux is a registered trademark of Linus Torvalds. All other marks are the property of their respective owners.