Wireless Blog

PMA International Convention and Trade Show, LAS VEGAS – March 9, 2007 – Alereon, Inc., the ultrawideband (UWB) technology leader for mobile WiMedia and solutions based on Certified Wireless USB, is partnering with leading digital camera vendors to demonstrate exciting new Wireless USB (WUSB) applications for the digital photography market. Through these collaborations, Alereon is able to demonstrate the swift, wireless transmission of photos from a digital camera to a PC, camera-to-printer, camera-to-camera and more. Alereon, with its Wireless-on-the-Go solution, is the only UWB company offering embedded device-to-device connectivity via Certified Wireless USB from the USB-Implementers. Wireless-on-the-Go enables users to wirelessly connect two handheld devices, such as digital cameras or camera phones, to swap data files over a short distance without eating up large chunks of battery life. Alereon’s solutions are ideal because they do use limited SoC processing power and they work in conjunction with almost any operating system, including NetBSD for printers, microITRON for cameras, Windows Mobile 5 for phones and Embedded Linux for HDTVs.

“Alereon feels strongly that the digital photography market is one that is rapidly growing with possibilities and customer demands for creative technology,” said Eric Broockman, Alereon’s CEO. “With our production-ready solutions offering the same easy-to-use, plug-and-play model as standard USB, including speeds up to 480Mbps, and with 10 times the power efficiency of WiFi, Alereon is proving to be the Wireless USB vendor of choice for digital camera and other personal technology and mobile communications device manufacturers.”

LAS VEGAS, NV – PHOTO MARKETING ASSOCIATION (PMA) 2007 – March 8, 2007 – Artimi® Inc., developer of wireless semiconductors for portable Certified Wireless USB consumer electronics, is demonstrating Wireless USB connectivity for next-generation digital cameras this week at the Photo Marketing Association (PMA) 2007 International Convention and Trade Show in Las Vegas. Visitors can take high-resolution photos on the demonstration camera and immediately download them directly to a photo printer, computer or display monitor using Artimi’s embedded, high-speed Wireless USB standards-based technology. The demonstration will be held in Artimi’s booth H 157 at PMA 2007 in the Las Vegas Convention Center, South Hall from March 8-11, 2007. Wireless USB allows consumers to quickly and automatically download digital photos, and other digital media content, for storing, printing or sharing—at speeds up to 480Mbps. Using WiMedia-based ultra-wideband (UWB) technology, Wireless USB is up to 90 times faster than WiFi-enabled cameras, and also faster than the wired USB cables most consumers use with their digital cameras today. This easy-to-use WiMedia-based UWB technology will also be used for next-generation Bluetooth. Bluetooth is already included in millions of mobile phone handsets that ship each year. Next-generation, high-speed Bluetooth wireless connectivity will let consumers easily share digital photos or video with friends directly from their mobile handsets.

“With Wireless USB, consumers don’t have to plug in and wait ten minutes or more to download their digital photos,” says Colin Macnab, CEO of Artimi. “Next-generation digital cameras with this technology will allow consumers to quickly download and share all their photos in just seconds, without draining the battery or having to carry extra cables. By developing low-power, high-throughput Wireless USB technology, Artimi is providing consumers ultra simple connectivity that is ideally suited for portable consumer electronics devices like digital cameras.”

Later this year, consumers will be able to purchase Wireless USB dongles and hubs to experience this high-speed wireless connectivity with their existing cameras, computers and printers. Digital cameras with embedded Wireless USB, similar to Artimi’s demonstration at PMA 2007, will be available during the first half of next year.

Artimi’s semiconductors and software have been integrated into a market-leading digital still camera (DSC) reference platform so manufacturers can bring Wireless USB-enabled cameras to market more quickly. Artimi provides support for both next-generation Bluetooth and Certified Wireless USB from the USB-IF in the same chip. The technology offers consumer electronics manufacturers maximum flexibility in product design and also delivers ease-of-use to consumers. In addition to the digital camera reference design, Artimi has other reference designs and development products available to help manufacturers reduce time to market for UWB-enabled consumer electronics products, such as cameras, printers and peripherals, personal media players and mobile handsets.

About Artimi Artimi provides semiconductors, software and reference designs for high data rate wireless connectivity, including WiMedia®-based Certified Wireless USB from the USB-IF and next-generation Bluetooth®. Artimi’s products employ ultra-wideband (UWB) radio techniques to enable high-speed wireless bulk data transfer between portable consumer electronics products. Target devices include PCs and peripherals, digital cameras and camcorders, docking stations, wireless hubs, personal media players and mobile handsets. Artimi, founded in 2002, is headquartered in Santa Clara, California, with research and development in Cambridge, UK, and sales offices in Japan and Taiwan.

(via Press Release from WiQuest Website - March 2, 2007) - WiQuest Communications Inc.,Allen, Texas, the leading fabless semiconductor company developing complete Ultrawideband (UWB) silicon, software and reference design solutions, announced today that its drivers are the first Wireless USB* drivers to earn Microsoft’s Windows Hardware Quality Lab (WHQL) certification for both Windows Vista and Windows XP operating systems. The certification includes 32-bit and 64-bit, single and dual core systems. WiQuest’s leadership in certifications simplifies and shortens the process for customers to gain approvals on their consumer products. WiQuest is the leader in the number of products that have received approval by the FCC including the world’s first notebook PC incorporating ultrawideband, as announced by Toshiba, and WiQuest’s own wireless USB Adapter and 4-port Hub. WiQuest’s WQST100 Family chipset has also been granted WiMedia PHY registration. “WiQuest continues to take a leadership position in the industry and with our customers in ensuring that our products are certified for use by all of the various industry certification and regulatory organizations,” said Dr. Matthew B. Shoemake, WiQuest founder, CEO and president. “Providing our customers with a WHQL certified product gives them the assurance that our hardware and drivers are fully compatible with the Windows operating systems. We are shortening customers’ time-to-market.” WHQL certified drivers simplify hardware installation by providing an experience that the user is very familiar with, and similar to wired USB. WHQL certification provides the assurance of high quality operation.

About WiQuest Communications
WiQuest Communications, Inc. is the leading, fabless semiconductor company designing and developing complete WiMedia-based ultrawideband (UWB) solutions focused on ultra high speed, short range applications. WiQuest’s complete solution offering includes chipset, software and reference designs. WiQuest’s technology enables a new class of applications for wireless connectivity to PC, consumer electronics and mobile systems – enabling The New Frontier of Wireless™. Founded in September 2003, WiQuest’s strong team comprises hundreds of years of collective industry semiconductor and system experience, resulting in dozens of successful high-volume product implementations including Wireless LAN, DSL and Ethernet solutions. To learn more about WiQuest, visit www.WiQuest.com. WiQuest’s wireless USB technology is based on the Certified Wireless USB specification from the USB-IF. WiQuest® and The New Frontier of Wireless™ are registered trademarks or trademarks of WiQuest Communications, Inc. All other trademarks and copyrights are the property of the respective owners.