Do Consumers Need to Understand Wireless Technologies?
Posted by Jesse Ward on Wednesday, February 1, 2012 · 
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Last week in Wilmington, N.C., database operator Spectrum Bridge launched the first commercial wireless network using unlicensed spectrum that was freed up in the shift from analog to digital television. In essence, the network operates in the white spaces between TV channels.
The technology is particularly useful for serving less densely populated areas, such as rural areas, where most vacant TV channels can be found. The low frequencies used by the white spaces travel well through buildings and varied terrain and can operate in a 50-mile radius with a single access point. Read more
Quick Stats
Posted by Steve Fravel on Friday, January 20, 2012 · ·
According to comScore Video Metrix service, online video usage increased again in the final month of 2011. comScore notes that 182 million Internet users in the United States watched 43.5 billion videos. The average Internet video user devoted 23.2 hours to watching online video during December 2011.
According to the Diffusion Group: 64% of connected Smart TV owners use WiFi.
New 5G WiFi Chips
Posted by Steve Fravel on Monday, January 9, 2012 · ·
Broadcom is now offering a new line of 5G WiFi computer chips for use in consumer electronics. The primary advantage will be the ability to deliver wireless video and data at speeds that will be three times faster than Internet connections sent through the current generation of WiFi chips.
Based on IEEE 802.11ac, a standard which is still under development, Broadcom’s 5G WiFi is a major evolutionary step from existing 802.11a/b/g/n networks. Consumers will notice an immediate quickness from use of the 802.11ac standard chips which may be used in routers and set-top-boxes.
The Wi-Fi Alliance does not expect to begin certifying products based upon this new standard before the fourth quarter of 2012. However, devices might start hitting stores by mid-year, which presumably would be upgradable to the final standard.
AT&T Launches New Hotzones, Advances WiFi Strategy
Posted by Jesse Ward on Monday, July 26, 2010 · ·
AT&T announced today that it is expanding its WiFi hotspot initiative, launching another free “hotzone” in Charlotte, N.C., with another hotzone to be deployed in Chicago in the coming weeks.
AT&T initially launched its hotzone concept back in May with a massive network in New York City’s Times Square.
The free (if you are an AT&T customer) WiFi hotspots are intended to supplement AT&T’s mobile broadband coverage in areas with consistently high 3G traffic and mobile data use. Read more
Cable Companies Announce WiFi Roaming Pact
Posted by Jesse Ward on Monday, April 19, 2010 · ·
Cablevision Systems Corp., Comcast Corp. and Time Warner Cable announced an agreement to allow their high-speed Internet customers to roam across the companies’ respective WiFi networks for free in the New York metropolitan area.
The strategic move is designed to entice and retain customers with a value-added feature, while also placing pressure on its telco competitors, namely Verizon, which have the weakest WiFi offerings. The importance of WiFi as a fast and reliable way to access the Internet is becoming increasingly clear as WiFi-enabled devices continue to proliferate, most recently Apple’s iPad. Read more
RCA Demos WiFi Smartphone Charger
Posted by Jesse Ward on Friday, January 22, 2010 · (1) ·
RCA recently demonstrated a prototype of its Wi-Fi Hotspot Power Harvester device called Airnergy. (See the video after the jump.) It’s designed to convert WiFi signals into DC power for charging small wireless devices such as smartphones. The idea is that as long as you are within range of a WiFi network, you could charge your phone.
The Airnergy is about 2 in. by 3 in. in size and is expected to sell for $39-$49 this summer. RCA is working on a smaller version that would substitute for a battery inside a handheld device and would sell for around $59. That smaller version might ship in 2011, according to a demonstration at the 2010 International CES. Read more
Cablevision’s Free WiFi Marks Two Million Sessions
Posted by Jesse Ward on Monday, June 15, 2009 · ·
Cablevision Systems Corp.’s offer of free WiFi for its Optimum Online high-speed Internet customers has proven to be quite popular. The service has logged more than two million sessions since its launch last year, and is currently averaging more than one million minutes online per day.
The second million sessions took place in under three months, less than half the amount of time as the first million. Read more