Well if you are in doubt of how to do something. Take it off the shelf and rework existing systems. That is what Meraki networks did. This is a system that utilizes std WiFi architecture, updates the firmware and provides the means to mesh a wireless internet connection. Options vary from free to carrier quality systems.

There is a subtle message here. If the carriers won’t provide a wireless internet connection the user base will do it on their own.

Check out the website.

If you have flown on any airline for any period of years you have heard the refrain — “Please place your tray table and seats in an upright position. Please turn off all electronic devices.” I remember it well. Well Dear Reader explain me this one please –

A memorandum of intent has been signed by American Airlines and AirCell LLC, a provider of airborne telecomms services, which will reportedly make it the first US airline to enable passengers to use AirCell’s high-speed broadband connectivity.

The broadband connectivity test is due to be conducted on the airline’s Boeing 767-200 aircraft, flying mainly transcontinental routes, next year, available in all classes for a fee. American Airlines said the service could be extended to the rest of its domestic fleet if the solution proves successful.

The solution will provide a high-speed Internet connection, VPN access and e-mail capabilities through WiFi-enabled laptops and PDA devices, allowing passengers to access real-time in-flight broadband communication. The technology will use three antennas fitted on the outside of the aircraft, with AirCell providing cellular towers throughout the continental US to transmit the signal, with 802.11a/b/gWiFi signals received inside the cabin.

Wifi is a low power service but on par with cellphones which the airlines always wanted turned off. Not only that, but Wifi is a spectrum hopping service to boot. I would suspect that there is as much opportunity for mischief by having the laptop on than there ever was for the cellphone. Bottom line, its OK so long as the airlines are getting their slice of the income. I don’t mind that so much, but don’t lie about it as a safety issue.

Linky.

Looking for a electro gadget that will be top in class for the next board meeting? You might look at the following little item. The OQO2 miniature PC. A small 2pound unit. The specs –

• 1.6GHz VIA C7M ULV (also available with 1.5GHz)
• embedded AES hardware encryption

Operating System
• Windows Vista Ultimate
• Vista Business
• Windows XP Tablet PC Edition 2005
• Windows XP Professional

Graphics
• chipset: VIA VX700 with integrated GPU
• video RAM: dynamically allocated shared video memory

Storage Drive
• HDD capacity: 60GB, 80GB or 120GB
• HDD protection: shock-mounted, drop detect technology
• also available with 32 GB solid state drive (SSD)

Memory
• installed: 1GB

This unit has HSPRA, 802.11a/b/g and bluetooth for wireless connectivity as well. Sadly you won’t see it here. The protocols used are not compatible with anything here in the US. Oh and hang on to your wallet. This wizardry costs $1900.

More on this unit here.

Philips has resubmitted test devices for the white space trials. Glad to see this has not been dropped. Oh and by the way Google, Motorola are submitting as well.

HT: Public Knowledge

Here’s a snapshot of the overseas action on the WiMax front:

South Africa

There is much debate in the technical media about broadband technology with each proponent making a case why their system is the best to deliver affordable broadband. We are of cause talking here about delivering the last mile.

I just need to put one thing into perspective and that it that even with the best broadband delivery to your home or office, the ultimate broadband experience will still depend on what happens after you reach the ISP, how much bandwidth they have to the world where at this stage most content resides and what is their contention ratio? But that is a subject for another time.

Super ADSL, Telkom calls it Next Generation DSL, extends the capability of basic ADSL by doubling the number of downstream bits. The data rates can be as high as 24 Mbit/s downstream and 1 Mbit/s upstream depending on the distance from the exchange to the customer’s home.

Next Generation DSL is capable of doubling the frequency band of typical ADSL connections from 1.1 MHz to 2.2 MHz and allows port bonding. This is where multiple ports are physically provisioned to the end user and the total bandwidth is equal to the sum of all provisioned ports.

India

Telsima has announced its WiMAX 450/700 MHz BWA Solution that delivers Internet, voice, and multimedia services over a wireless broadband link to remote users.

The Telsima solution is an end- to-end communication solution for operators that have a frequency license between 400 MHz and 1 GHz. The solution can be customized for any specified band within that range — by default it supports the 450 MHz and 700 MHz bands. This standardWiMAX SoC-based solution leverages all the benefits of this open standard point-to-multipoint technology, making way for unmatched set of rich features at low cost.

According to Burcak Beser, CTO Telsima , 450 MHz and 700 MHz bands have excellent signal propagation characteristics, a fact that makes them ideal choices for communication networks.

Kenya

[ED note: This is not exactly WiMax but is included for interest.]Coastweek - - Africa Online’s new wireless REAL Broadband internet service is now available to potential users in Nyali, Bamburi, Kiembeni and Shanzu.

Explaining the long-awaited set up Africa Online Mombasa Network Engineer Louis Murimi Njoka recalled:

“It has been almost one year to date when Africa Online launched its flagship wireless REAL Broadband internet product aptly named InfiNet (infinite + internet).

“Several thousand diverse customers later we are on course to rolling out our second base station to cover the north coast.”

InfiNet is a wireless access solution whose potential reaches far beyond Wifi, Wimax, Gprs and even 3G and it does it without the enormous costs.

InfiNet is powered by Iburst (or HC-SDMA, High Capacity Spatial Division Multiple Access) technology.

India

The WiMAX Forum® today announced the organization plans to create the first ever WiMAX Forum Designated Certification Laboratory in India by 2008. This laboratory will be part of WiMAX Forum’s global initiative of establishing and operating such centers in key telecom markets.

“India’s ecosystem is strategic to the success of WiMAX technology, and we are committed to expanding WiMAX Forum regional office initiatives to include the approval of a WiMAX Forum Certification Laboratory in India,” said Ron Resnick, President and Chairman of WiMAX Forum. “WiMAX is the key to addressing India’s huge market demand for broadband Internet, and preparing to meet the future needs of the country’s communication needs.”

WiMAX Forum Certified™ equipment gives operators a powerful platform to roll out advanced services and applications across a wide range of devices. By establishing the Certification Laboratory in India will enable WiMAX equipment vendors in India to accelerate the certification process targeting the India market.

Emphasizing the broadband policy and allocation of the spectrum for broadband deployment is the most important issue to be addressed in India, Dr. Mohammad Shakouri, Vice-President Marketing of the WiMAX Forum added. “A most important issue is that of allocation of spectrum in the 2.5GHz band.” With the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) approving the inclusion of WiMAX technologies in the IMT-2000 set of standards earlier this year, WiMAX spectrum will become more readily available to operators worldwide increasing the potential of building cost effective wireless telecommunication infrastructure in India to help it compete with the global economy. “The WiMAX Forum will continue to work with the Indian government and existing telecommunications organizations to promote and substantiate that adequate spectrum and bandwidth is allocated for WiMAX deployments while presenting no conflict with existing technologies” he further added.

UK

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Sequans and AT4 wireless will co-operate on Mobile WiMAX Wave 2 radio testing to accelerate delivery of their respective solutions

AT4 wireless is working with leading WiMAX chip supplier Sequans to deliver industry-leading WiMAX testing services and best-in-class WiMAX technology. The partnership calls for Sequans and AT4 wireless (through its Systems Division) to co-operate on Mobile WiMAX Wave 2 radio testing to accelerate delivery of their respective solutions.

This article was originally published on Electronicstalk on 14 December 2007 at 8.00am (UK)
Related stories Wi-Fi testing is certified for 802.11n draft 2.0 First laboratory in Europe is qualified for testing to the Wi-Fi Certified 802.11n draft 2.0 programme

UTRAN testing enhances one-stop service AT4 wireless has been qualified to offer UTRAN testing services according PTCRB requirements Sequans will provide AT4 wireless with early access to its newest WiMAX semiconductor solutions and reference designs, which AT4 wireless will use for the ongoing verification of its MINT T2110 WiMAX radio test platform, a tester specifically designed to meet the requirements of the WiMAX MRCT test specification.

Radio conformance testing is mandatory when certifying Mobile WiMAX mobile stations and basestations and the MINT T2110 is the system designated by the WiMAX Forum for such testing.

Malaysia

KUALA LUMPUR: Packet One Networks is busy installing WiMAX base stations in the Klang Valley and is conducting tests on its coming wireless broadband service.

Michael Lai, CEO of Green Packet International Sdn Bhd, said the tests are a prelude to a beta trial and subsequent commercial launch slated for January and June respectively. Packet One is a subsidiary of Green Packet.

WiMAX (Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access) is a wireless digital communications system that is intended for wireless broadband access at up to 10Mbps (megabits per second) that promises to blanket a bigger area; up to 50km radius from a single base station.

Packet One is one of four WiMAX operators licensed by industry regulator, the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC). The others are Bizsurf, Asiaspace Dotcom and Redtone-CNX Broadband. Lai said the licensees are required by MCMC to roll out WiMAX services to 25% of the population in the areas given to them by the end of next year. They should be providing 100% coverage by 2010.

WiMax on the Move.

Cisco is wrapping up its acquisiton of Navini Networks. Barring in any last minute hitches, the deal should be complete before years end. Navini Networks has had reasonable success in the overseas markets in providing WiMax infrastructure products. —

US$330 million acquisition of WiMax wireless provider Navini Networks Inc. should be completed in a matter of days, helping bring Cisco closer to its intention of bringing wireless broadband to emerging countries.

The planned acquisition of the Richardson, Tex.-based Navini, announced in October, was billed as a means “to drive broadband penetration to consumers and business in emerging countries,” according to a press release issued Oct. 23.

However, Cisco is not ruling out the possibility that WiMax sales opportunities will open up in other markets including the U.S., said Brett Galloway, general manager of wireless networking at Cisco in a short interview at C-Scape 2007, a Cisco analyst conference. “We’ll go where the business is,” Galloway said.

Linky.

Russia. Comstar and Intel will partner in the deploy of a WiMax solution, initially in Moscow. Comstar will provide the necessary network infrastructure support. Intel to provide the necessary integration and CPE expertise on the mobile side. –

In an effort to bring people faster, lower cost and a truly mobile, data broadband technology, Comstar, Russia’s leading telecomm provider, and Intel Corporation today announced a collaboration to develop mobile WiMAX in Russia.

The joint effort will initially focus on building a city-wide mobile WiMAX network in Moscow. Comstar plans to use its 2.5-2.7Ghz spectrum footprint in the city to build the network and is targeting its commercial launch for late 2008. Intel will drive an ecosystem of the client devices with embedded WiMAX solutions.

Press Release.

Primer. For those of a inquisitive bent you might want to go over to this Wikipedia listing and take a look at what is possible with WiMax. Now in Korea they call it WiBro (Wireless Broadband), natch. Why should you take a look? Well at a minimum they are three years ahead of the US in deployment let alone the R&D.

Oh and by the way, over there it’s $22/month for 30Mbps+. Ah hum. That’s what we pay for DSL here.

In a National Health Interview it was discovered that some 13% of the households use no land line for communications. The profile of the people in this subgroup were — likely to be smokers and/or binge drinkers.

The federal government estimates that one of every eight American homes uses only mobile phones for communications.

The data comes from the National Health Interview Survey, which was conducted between January and June of this year by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s National Center for Health Statistics. The government noted that the number of wireless-only households has been steadily increasing since 2003 and now accounts for 13.6% of households.

Researchers found that more than 55% of all adults living with unrelated roommates relied solely on cellphones, and noted that this is the “highest prevalence rate among the population subgroups examined.”

I would not be surprised if employment applications start asking if you only use a cell phone as a phone service. Might show up as a ‘bad habit’ for particular age groups. Ouch!

Linky.

Well we stumbled across this interesting beastie. It takes certain Verizon or Sprint cellular device and permits one to turn it into a wifi hotspot. Now is a WiFi connection at USB speeds interests you this little jewel may fit your ticket.

But is it worth $180 to you for this capability? Vendor’s website here.