Your Guide To Wireless

Cisco gears up for the future

The networking giant's new UK supremo, Phil Smith, talks to Dave Bailey about the impact collaborative tools and rich media content are having on the internet, and explains how new networking innovations are helping to combat climate change Networking giant Cisco posted a set of first-quarter financial results last week showing an eight per cent increase in sales, but with profit down 0.2 per cent year on year. The firm recently announced Phil Smith as its new UK and Ireland vice president an...

Free Wi-Fi Radio Band Passes FCC Tests

Mobile devices using a new radio band for free wireless service would not cause significant interference with cell phones employing a nearby band, the Federal Communications Commission has concluded from its tests. The band was once used for microwave links between carrier facilities; but in 2006, citing the lack of any FCC plan at the time for assigning the spectrum, M2Z Networks proposed using it for a combination of free and paid wireless services that would reach 95 percent of U.S. reside...

New Australian Airline To Accommodate In-Flight Wireless

Passengers flying on V Australia's new Boeing 777-300ER aircraft might soon be able to use GPRS (General Packet Radio Service) mobile phones and data-capable PDAs during flights the same way they use them on the ground during trans-Pacific flights. The only obstacle in the way at present is approval by Australian and U.S. government and regulatory agencies. Panasonic Avionics is providing the technology behind this AeroMobile service, which will let passengers send email, SMS, and other data com...

Nationwide Wimax Back On?

Clearwire and Sprint have apparently reconsidered their decision to abandon a joint WiMax venture. Last fall the two companies ceased work on a network build-out that would have brought wireless connectivity to even remote parts of the country. Now, with a recent infusion of cash reported at $2 billion from Intel, a major WiMax supporter, the partnership between the two service providers is back on.

Starbucks Serves AT&T WI-FI

Beginning this spring, more than 7,000 Starbucks across the U.S. will offer AT&T Wi-Fi service. For existing AT&T broadband and U-verse customers, this means free Wi-Fi when visiting a Starbucks store. Starbucks cardholders will be eligible for two hours of free Wi-Fi per day at participating stores, and all other Starbucks customers will be able to purchase two-hour installments of Wi-Fi time for $3.99 or monthly access for $19.99.

Wifi Classmate

Intel unveiled a new-look Wifi-enabled Classmate PC at IDF. It is designed to provide schools with a low-cost educational platform. The company was accused last year of undermining the One Laptop Per Child project to produce $100 laptops for schools in poor countries by offering first-generation Classmate at below-cost price to gain market share. It later joined the project. Elonex is selling an educational mobile in the UK for just £99.

WIMAX Mobile

Wimax mobile Freedom4, the company formerly known as Pipex Wireless, has applied to Ofcom for the right to offer mobile Wimax services. In a joint venture with Intel, the company has already begun a rollout of fixed Wimax services. News via PCW