Heavily-backed WiGig Alliance to stream everything over 60GHz
By Darren Murph 
posted May 6th 2009 8:00AM
posted May 6th 2009 8:00AM
The group consists of household names such as Microsoft, LG, Dell, Samsung, Marvell, Nokia, NEC, Intel and Broadcom (just to name a few), and when we spoke to executives about the announcement, they told us that plans were to have the specification available to member organizations in Q4 of this year. The sad part is that this likely means we won't see shipping products with the WiGig logo for another year after that -- if we're lucky. We can't argue that some stability would be nice in this volatile sector; after all, we've been waiting for promising products like Belkin's FlyWire to ship for well over a year. The execs we spoke with couldn't speak on behalf of the partner firms in terms of what WiGig products were looming on the horizon, but as we alluded to earlier, the playing field is wide open. Honestly, we'd love for this to take off and finally give high-bandwidth wireless applications the support it needs to flourish, but as we've seen over the past few years, the road ahead ain't an easy one to walk. The full release is after the break.
Industry Leaders Form Wireless Gigabit Alliance to Promote 60 GHz Wireless Technology
Diverse Group of PC, Consumer Electronics, Handheld and Semiconductor Companies Unite to Develop High Speed Wireless Ecosystem
SAN JOSE, Calif. – May 7, 2009 – More than 15 technology companies today announced the Wireless Gigabit (WiGig) Alliance, an organization formed to establish a unified specification for 60 Gigahertz (GHz) wireless technologies. The widespread availability and use of digital multimedia content has created an ever-increasing need for faster wireless connectivity that current wireless standards cannot support. This has fueled demand for a single technology that can support instantaneous file transfers, wireless display and docking, and streaming high definition media on a variety of devices. To meet this demand, WiGig Alliance is developing a 60 GHz wireless technology that provides the optimal way to connect consumer electronics, handheld devices and personal computers.
The WiGig specification will allow devices to communicate without wires at gigabit speeds within a typical room. The group's vision is to create a global ecosystem of interoperable products based on this specification, which will unify the next generation of entertainment, computing and communications devices at speeds more than 10 times faster than today's wireless LANs.
Bringing together a diverse group of leading wireless semiconductor, PC, consumer electronics and handheld device manufacturers, WiGig Alliance is creating a unified 60 GHz specification that meets the performance and energy efficiency requirements of many types of wireless devices and applications all around the world. This will drive an interoperable ecosystem of easy-to-use, high speed, low power wireless products. Among the companies that comprise this industry-leading board of directors are:
• Atheros Communications, Inc.
• Broadcom Corporation
• Dell, Inc.
• Intel Corporation
• LG Electronics Inc.
• Marvell International LTD.
• MediaTek Inc.
• Microsoft Corporation
• NEC Corporation
• Nokia Corporation
• Panasonic Corporation
• Samsung Electronics Co.
• Wilocity
"Our member companies are leaders in the wireless, CE, PC and handheld markets. They have the technical acumen and business experience to make the 60 GHz wireless technology a reality for both the home and enterprise," said Dr. Ali Sadri, President and Chairman of the Wireless Gigabit Alliance. "To help bring this technology to market, we welcome new member companies to join our group."
WiGig Alliance members are defining a unified specification that leverages the unlicensed 60 GHz spectrum to provide unprecedented wireless performance. This technology is being designed from the ground up to address the specific requirements of various platforms, to coexist with future 60 GHz solutions and complement millions of Wi-Fi devices already in use around the world. Wireless docking, display and entertainment, without performance compromise, will become a reality with gigabit-speed wireless I/O and eliminate the unsightly cables that clutter today's homes and offices.
"We're now at the point where the last barrier to wireless being able to do everything that wire can has fallen," said Craig Mathias, a Principal with the wireless and mobile advisory firm, Farpoint Group. "In both the residence and the enterprise, more capacity and throughput are always desirable. WiGig Alliance is going to deliver technology that will have an enormous impact on connectivity and mobility, information technology, consumer electronics, and many other applications."
The WiGig specification is expected to be available to member companies in Q4 of 2009. To register as an adopter in advance of the final specification, visit http://wigig.org/specification.
About the Wireless Gigabit Alliance
The Wireless Gigabit Alliance envisions a global wireless ecosystem of interoperable, extremely high performance consumer electronics, handheld devices and personal computers that work together seamlessly to connect people in the digital age. WiGig's technology enables multi-gigabit-speed wireless communications among these devices and fuels industry convergence to a single radio using the readily available, unlicensed 60 GHz spectrum. By bringing together the leading manufacturers of semiconductors, personal computers, consumer electronics and handheld devices, WiGig Alliance is creating a comprehensive specification to drive a global ecosystem of easy-to-use, interoperable, high speed wireless products.
Among the companies that comprise this industry-leading board of directors are Atheros Communications, Inc., Broadcom Corporation, Dell, Inc., Intel Corporation, LG Electronics Inc., Marvell International LTD., MediaTek Inc., Microsoft Corporation, NEC Corporation, Nokia Corporation, Panasonic Corporation, Samsung Electronics Co. and Wilocity. At launch, these founding companies are also joined by the following contributor companies; NXP, Realtek, STMicroelectronics and Tensorcom, Inc. For more information, please visit http://www.wirelessgigabitalliance.org.
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Wireless Gigabit Alliance and WiGig are trademarks of the Wireless Gigabit Alliance.
So... not that it matters that apple backs them or anything because as long as you have internets you can download through itunes, but I'm wondering why there is an itunes/apple logo up there but no zune logo...
Apple is not a member.. Microsoft is... seems peculiar to me.
oh, and before anyone lambasts me for bashing engadget or anything, I do realize that the image probably came from WiGig itself... I'm more just asking why Microsoft would be OK with it..
Theres a lot of logos from companies who aren't on the list of companies who have signed up. I wouldn't think too much of it
Actually, the list is not members, but the board of directors. Apple may be in partnership, just not in one of the captains' seats.
Too bad the website is restricted currently...
both of you make valid points... if this happens it might be really cool... although, at 60 GHz, what would the range be?
So if you join this alliance, that makes you a "WiGig-er"
My goodness. Unlicensed frequencies? How did the government ever let that one squeek through. Clearly, this unlicensed bandwith with result in utter chaos - must have governement control - call Obama to save us...
May it fast, make it cheap, make it soon, and you'll make me very happy!
Are they gonna incorporate this into the 802.11 family? I don't want to have wireless double standards.
So did they come up with this before or after they lost the WiFi case (not to mention some cash) to CSIRO? ...
how much tumor is this going to give me?
I'd hate to put a number on that, let's just say plenty.
But perhaps it'll give you superpowers too as it rearranges your DNA.
Whats 60Ghz like for range, or getting through walls?
Wouldn't this higher frequency have issues with going through walls and other hard objects?
I guess maybe the idea is for applications of it to be similar to what bluetooth is today, for device interconnection and maybe wireless HDMI, now that would be sweet.
So, 60Ghz has a wavelength of about 5mm. Wikipedia sez that it has problems going through oxygen, yet also states it's possible to get 1.7km ranges out of 60ghz links. (though no mention of how many watts it took to do that).
Given that wifi is up to 200mW or so, and 802.11g has a range of around 10 meters, I'm guessing 60ghz is gonna go less than a meter, tops, and certainly not through walls.
interesting thing about 60ghz, the antennas can be really small, for example, 2.5mm, so the antennas could be more easily built in to a chip or die, instead of the big 60mm for 802.11. That would reduce cost.
The best thing about this product is that it might help put Monster Cable out of business. WiGig could potentially make setting up home entertainment systems easier and eliminate cable clutter. Unfortunately it will also increase the price of any device that incorporates the technology, which will probably make adoption a slow process. They could speed things up by designing WiGig adaptors that you can put in an HTPC for direct streaming to WiGig-enabled gear.