Axis Communications today introduced what it claims is the first network camera designed for use in buses and rail vehicles. The AXIS 209FD-R Network Camera is a compact (less than 1.6" high), ruggedized camera designed to resist the vibration, dust and high humidity typically found in mass transit vehicles.
Wi-Fi Array maker Xirrus today announced the launch of the Xirrus 802.11n Upgrade Guarantee Program. The program provides customers with a pay-for 802.11n technology upgrade path on Arrays purchased in advance of the standard’s ratification, which is expected sometime in 2008.
Xirrus said it can offer the upgrade due to the Array’s modular design. All RF components are located on modular printed circuit boards which can be replaced when 802.11n radio modules are available. An upgrade to an Array’s firmware-based 802.11 MAC will also be required.
Authentication technology developer CRYPTOCard yesterday announced the introduction of its CRYPTO-MAS Managed Authentication Service.
CRYPTO-MAS is a Managed Authentication Service that protects companies and their employees against shoulder surfing, social engineering, and other forms of password theft by using token-based two-factor authentication in combination with a Personal Identification Numbers (PINs). The service uses CRYPTOCard’s authentication technology, which is deployed by "major organizations" in over 70 countries.
Devicescape launches new service, software, to reduce friction: The company opened its public beta to enable portable Wi-Fi-equipped devices to attach themselves to hotspots without the tedium–when it’s even possible–of logging in. Devicescape, until now, has been known as an embedded Wi-Fi driver developer, making network software that runs on devices that have very little … Read more
Atheros Communications today announced the Atheros AR5007EG – a 802.11g PCI Express (PCIe) device that includes both low noise amplifier (LNA) and power amplifier (PA), in a low-cost, single-chip digital CMOS design.
The device is targeted at lowering the cost of adding 802.11b/g wireless connectivity to both notebook and desktop PCs. Its advantages include a 50 percent reduction in the printed circuit board cost and 25 percent reduction in rest of bill-of-materials (RBOM) component count over previous generation board designs.
SMC Networks today announced a product bundle for wireless Skype calling. The bundle includes everything you need to make Internet calls using an 802.11b or g wireless LAN: SMC’s WSKP100 Wi-Fi Phone for Skype (reviewed here), FON’s “La Fonera” wireless router, 500 minutes of SkypeOut credit and Skype Voicemail for a year. The bundle is … Read more
This release from AirMagnet gave me a chuckle this morning. Seems it’s bad enough that putting up holiday decorations might get you reported to H.R. by those who don’t celebrate your particular holiday. But now they might also screw up your wireless LAN. So while making your list and checking it twice, be sure to … Read more
I was browsing the latest issue of PC World this morning and came across an ad for a new wireless router that shows that at least one company is thinking about how to design a latest-generation wireless router. The ad shows Buffalo Technology’s Wireless-N Nfiniti Dual-Band Gigabit Router, which is the first router that I … Read more
Belkin issued a brief press release this morning that said its Cable-Free USB Hub will be “available for purchase in mid-December”. The F5U301 Cable-Free USB Hub lists for $199.99 and is based on Wisair silicon. It supports a single wireless UWB connection between the supplied USB adapter plugged into a computer and wired USB devices … Read more
Just before Monday broke here on the East coast, Qualcomm (which minutes later announced that it was acquiring Airgo) “announced the availability of the world’s first chipset offering full support for Draft 2.0 of the IEEE 802.11n standard”. As Glenn Fleishman points out in his post, since Draft 2.0 won’t be voted on until March of next year, this announcement is pitching a chipset that is based upon a “draft of a draft”.
We all knew that at some point Airgo would come off its mountain and wallow in the pre-standard mud along with Broadcom, Atheros and Marvell. So I guess if you’re going to get dirty, you might as well set a new standard. Congratulations to both Airgo and its proud new owner Qualcomm for establishing a new low in WLAN marketing practices.
Infrant Technologies today announced a Network Attached Storage (NAS) product for the SMB market. The ReadyNAS 1100 is packaged in a compact 12" deep 1U chassis, enabling back-to-back mounting in a four-post data rack. Typical power consumption is 75 watts with four hard drives.
Other hardware features include dual gigabit Ethernet ports, full-hardware RAID (0, 1, 5, X-RAID), support for up to four hot-swappable SATA hard drives and sequenced hard drive power on to protect against "start-up surging."
Qualcomm today announced that it will acquire for cash WLAN MIMO innovator Airgo Networks and the majority of RF Micro Devices‘ (RFMD’s) Bluetooth assets. The announcement said the acquisitions are being made to "enhance Qualcomm’s ability to deliver industry-leading, complete semiconductor solutions that will enable its device manufacturing partners to more quickly and easily offer a wide range of compelling wireless devices".
