Intel Announces New Ultra-Wideband Silicon, Host Reference Designs

Intel Announces New Ultra-Wideband Silicon, Host Reference Designs

Intel Corporation today announced the availability of the Intel® Wireless UWB Link 1480 MAC (media access controller) silicon and reference designs for ultra-wideband host solutions. These solutions, based on the Certified Wireless Universal Serial Bus (USB) specification from the USB Implementers Forum and the WiMedia Network specification from the WiMedia* Alliance, will allow independent hardware vendors, PC manufacturers and device OEMs to deliver high-bandwidth, low-power wireless solutions that provide personal area network connectivity in the digital home and office.

“UWB will allow end-users faster wireless access than ever before to their digital content – photos, music, videos,” said Rich Wykoff, general manager of Intel’s New Business Initiatives Group. “We look forward to exploring a new world of unwired possibilities uncovered by UWB.”

Intel’s UWB host MAC silicon has been integrated with multiple third-party UWB physical layers, offering customers a choice of radio solutions in its host reference designs. The Intel host solution enables concurrent operation of Certified Wireless USB and WiNet and has been demonstrated to interoperate with multiple device peripherals such as cameras and printers.

“Our customers are demanding hassle-free, high-bandwidth wireless solutions for their PCs,” said P.G. Madhavan, wireless architect in the Microsoftâ„¢ Windowsâ„¢ Networking division and a member of the WiMedia board of directors. “UWB enables such scenarios and we are delighted to be working with Intel to test our beta wireless USB drivers on the Intel Host Wire Adapter. We plan to support the concurrent functionality of WiNet and Certified Wireless USB enabled in Intel’s host solution with Microsoft drivers.”

Read the complete Press Release