USB-IF launches wireless USB certification program

You heard right, it's finally here. After questioning Bluetooth's ability to compete with it, and seeing numerous (unsurprising) delays, the USB Implementers Forum announced today the "availability of the Certified Wireless USB Compliance and Certification Program." If you're a bit stumped as to why we've already seen a few untethered USB devices floating about, the logic follows the same taken by 802.11n draft-spec adopters, and this QA procedure will "assure" consumers of its functionality, give suppliers a solid set of guidelines, and allow manufacturers to slap that coveted seal of approval on the box. More good news came when the previously claimed speeds -- 480Mbps at 3 meters and 110Mbps at 10 meters -- were confirmed as realizable. Initially, wireless USB compliance testing will be hosted at Intel's "Wireless USB Platform Integration Lab," with more branches to open in 2007. In times where delays and setbacks are far and away more common than getting things out the door, it's refreshing to see at least one wireless agenda reach completion.

[Via WiFi Planet]

[Nick @ Sep 27th 2006 1:54PM]

dang! i have been waiting for the "wireless revolution"... it is finally coming true!

[Nathan Ziarek @ Sep 27th 2006 1:59PM]

Nifty. Find me someone working on Nikola Tesla's ideas for wireless power, and we'll be all set!

[brendan Sheehan jnr @ Sep 27th 2006 2:02PM]

I can see it now. iPod 6G? XfingersX

[Gerald @ Sep 27th 2006 2:08PM]

yep, thats true.
Wireless revolution, here we come.

Soon, we are going to have wireless monitor screens where we can place it anywhere in the room, only with the limitation of that nasty powercord. Dang!

Why don't they introduce wireless powercords?
-where power is transmitted wirelessly to consumer products?

[brendan Sheehan jnr @ Sep 27th 2006 2:15PM]

That will happen eventually! www.splashpower.com have started the ball rolling on that one :) :O

[Michael Writhe @ Sep 29th 2006 6:07PM]

http://www.thinkgeek.com/stuff/41/wec.shtml

whats this? A WIRELESS EXTENSION CORD?!

*chuckles*

[tekdroid @ Sep 27th 2006 2:21PM]

maybe it's just me, but I can't think of any "killer app" for wireless USB. I suppose a scanner in a centralised office location with many cramped cubicles sharing it daily would be one scenario (though it would be plugged into the mains in that central location, not using more expensive integrated batteries?).

And I suppose HDs plugged into the mains in a central location to share some files or save files to?

Mice and keyboards and networking have been 'done' and I doubt USB wireless will make them cheaper (though can make them faster, I suppose - if longer distances don't eat into the bandwidth too much).

[JayWasTaken @ Sep 27th 2006 2:44PM]

@tekdroid

No "killer apps" are you mad man obviously this is aimed at the portable markets such as dmp's, cameras and phones so that transferring your precious precious media without the backbreaking effort of sticking in a usb cable.

Or even better the hot swapage of pics and tunes on the go the possibilities are endless well no that's a lie but there definitely there anyway.

Actually think bluetooth only hella fast.

[Wi-Fi Planet @ Sep 27th 2006 3:03PM]

Actualy, the Belkin unit you linked to above, announced back in January-- it never came out. Belkin wanted to use chips from Freescale, but Freescale (after screwing up the ultrawideband standard process in the IEEE) bailed on UWB altogether a couple months ago. However, just yesterday it announced a new chip partner, WiQuest, covered at http://www.ultrawidebandplanet.com/technology/article.php/3529451.

Thanks for the link!

Eric at Wi-Fi Planet

[tekdroid @ Sep 27th 2006 3:03PM]

JayWasTaken:
didn't think of digital cams or portable audio. Would be nice, I guess. As long as costs were ok and batteries didn't die too soon. One of the advantages of wired USB is giving up to 500mA of current to connected devices. Still, I don't regard wireless USB as killer so far (maybe because it was late to the party?), especially if the price goes up for the feature. In other words, it's not something on my "gotta have it" list. Most of the time I'm happy to be connecting a simple cable to a device, particularly if it powers it.

[Alex @ Sep 27th 2006 3:03PM]

This is amazing. Wow, so fast.

[Chris @ Sep 27th 2006 6:52PM]

"Why don't they introduce wireless powercords?
-where power is transmitted wirelessly to consumer products?"

I believe that's the idea behind a battery.

[adaminc @ Sep 29th 2006 9:18AM]

There is a VW manufacturing plant in dresden (i think) and all the electronic tools are wirelessly powered, by induction, no cables! it was pretty interesting to see the plant, they had the vehicles on this large rotating platform, and the work stations were in the middle, which was stationary, and the stations could roll around on the floor, very cool, it was on discovery channel a few days ago.

[infringer @ Oct 21st 2006 2:01PM]

Think about it 3 meters approx 9ft 360 degrees you could have a power strip 9ft away and plugged into it could be loads of external USB-IF Hard Drive Enclosures no wirey mess around you're workspace but yet very feature rich!

[I LOVE THE CAPS LOCK KEY @ Jan 5th 2007 2:06AM]

The link in your article/photo is dead.

http://home.businesswire.com/portal/site/google/index.jsp?ndmViewId=news_view&newsId=20060926005219&newsLang=en

[mnbilir @ Mar 11th 2007 9:21AM]

harika bişi ben de bunu arıyordum