Overcoming Wireless USB commercialization challenges

By Gadi Shor, Wisair
Aug 7 2007 (14:43 PM), Wireless Net DesignLine

Today, the face of UWB and Wireless USB technology continues to evolve as it marches toward mass market commercialization. Wireless USB, also known as Certified Wireless USB, is a short-range, high-bandwidth wireless extension to USB that combines the speed and ease-of-use of USB 2.0 with the convenience of wireless technology.

Many anticipate that it will eventually become the personal and home area network of choice for high speed digital media transfer between devices, especially as the technology begins to reach out to the mass market via devices like PCs and mobile handsets.

Certified Wireless USB products are already poised to hit the market this year with initial products to include laptops, as well as dongle and hub solutions that allow PCs to wirelessly connect to PC peripherals and CE devices. By mid 2008, integrated solutions with built-in Certified Wireless USB capability may also be available in a few devices, such as printers and digital still cameras.

Such product introductions bode well for the commercialization of Wireless USB. Yet, like any new technology, its widespread proliferation will not come easy.

A number of key technological challenges must first be overcome if it is to become a true mainstream mass market technology—not the least of which is slashing chip prices, via migration to a single-chip solution, so that it is affordable to average consumers (See Sidebar: Lessons Learned.

Fortunately, there are solutions available to help design teams overcome the challenges of developing a single-chip solution.

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