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Texas Instruments offers chipset plan for a/b/g path: TI announced today its plans for upcoming chipsets to support 802.11a, b, and g, as well as draft quality of service (QoS) and security (802.11i, WPA) standards. Part of their will allow seamless roaming across 802.11a, b, and g networks, so that an adapter can swap opportunistically, instead of requiring a manual change of network type.
The chipset combines both MAC and baseband in a single chip (TNETW1130 is the model number). It supports WEP and WPA (Wi-Fi Protected Access), and the optional AES encryption system that appears to be the future of link-layer security coming out of 802.11i. Unlike their ACX100 chipset, used in offering by D-Link and others to provide 22 Mbps PBCC-based 2.4 GHz service, the TNETW1130 includes support for draft standards including 802.11g and TI essentially promises firmware upgradability to ratified versions of these standards. The press release implies compatibility with the ACX100-style 22 Mbps service as well as 802.11a, b, and g.
The chipset also includes TI's new low-power (ELP) mode announced a few weeks ago which can drastically reduce power drain on handhelds and moderately reduce drain in laptops.
TI will make multiple form factors available for PC Cards (home and enterprise), access points, and mini-PCI. They will also offer complete reference designs for easy development.
The cost in quantity is estimated at less than $23 per unit for 802.11g Cardbus form factors, and less than $28 per unit for 802.11a/g Cardbus. TI will sample chips in December and ship by April 2003.
Other News
Updated wireless article: I radically revised my article on this site about WEP's weaknesses and securing data in transit in light of the Wi-Fi Alliance's announcement of WPA (Wi-Fi Protected Access).
72-mile link in San Diego: a remarkably progressive and experimental group bringing network access to remote places is running a 72-mile 2.4 GHz link to an island to handle telemetry from a variety of monitoring equipment. The article says the devices use 2-foot parabolic dishes and the maximum 1 watt output, but doesn't specify EIRP, which could be a lot higher. (Engineers, any feedback?)
T-Mobile pushes into Chicago, D.C., elsewhere: T-Mobile HotSpot's page indicates 1,991 locations now, and locations in Chicago, D.C., and elsewhere seem to be live. The Chicago Tribune [registration required] is generally fine, though it repeats two errors made elsewhere: T-Mobile acquired the assets of MobileStar, not the company, thus avoiding its debt and investors; and Project Rainbow has been denied by all putative participants, so can't be cited as an active project without that qualfiication. [via Kevin Kowalczyk]