Intersil’s GTRAN modem card combines wireless LAN and CDMA connectivity in a PC card. Meanwhile, Zyray Wireless, Airify and others are also shooting for global integration.
Nokia’s D-311 card combines GPRS and WLAN networks while Gtran has a PC Card that combines 1xRTT CDMA and 802.11b connectivity. Officers in 140 Pennslvania police cruisers now carry laptops connected to a Padcom device in the car that switches them seamlessly between Verizon’s CDPD (Cellular Digital Packet Data) network and any of nine Wi-Fi hotspots at station houses around the city. So does Baltimore and Oakland. Sprint and Boingo will team with 802/cellular roaming using TSI Telecommunication Services roaming software. VoiceStream, which bought MobileStar’s assets will use RadioFrame hardware, an indoor wireless network that converges wireless voice standards and 802.11 data into one system.
WiFi systems are big power hogs while cellular radios are slower but sip juice. Two Canadian companies get more bang for the milliwatt. Icefyre claims it has an 802.11a chipset requiring less than 75 percent of the power needed by competitors while Atsana claims multi-media skills, perhaps not unlike Magis.
Atheros is currently about the only supplier of 5 Gig chips. Soon dozens of competitors will emerge. Expect much lower prices and additional features in the next few months. The really big surge may not happen until the 802.11g standard is solidified, later this year.
.gif)
