Wireless USB certified in Q1

Cameras and hard disks using the standard unlikely to appear until Christmas 07

The Wireless USB consortium has insisted that its much delayed standard will finally be certified this quarter.

The standard allows devices to transfer data such as pictures at USB speeds but without the need for a physical wire between a camera’s and computer’s USB ports. But it has suffered serious delays.

Last spring the group said certification was close and the standard would appear integrated within devices such as digital cameras and hard disks by Christmas 2006. Now, many products using integrated Wireless USB are unlikely to appear until Christmas 2007.

By the end of this quarter though, devices such as four-port wireless USB hubs will appear. Initially, it will be via external Wireless USB dongles that products will get the capability.

Speaking at CES in Las Vegas, Mike Krell, director of corporate communication at chip maker Alereon, said: “At first it will be a combination of hubs and dongles. But we’ll start to see it built into laptops by mid year. We’ll see it in hard drives and maybe cameras and mobile phones by Christmas.”

Also in development is the ability to transfer data directly from product to product (rather than product to computer) using Wireless USB, such as photos between two cameras or information between hard disks for back up purposes.

Krell could not put a timeline for such products to appear, but said it could be by Christmas as well.

“We’re waiting for certification – that’s the big nut to crack. And then the design cycle – manufacturers don’t want to design in Wireless USB unless the standard has been certified.”

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