Intel's UWB Chip and First Customers

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Originally published at Internet.com

Intel has worked behind the scenes on ultrawideband standards with the WiMedia Alliance but this week at the Intel Developers Conference finally revealed its initial plans for a UWB chip. And while on the surface it doesn't appear too exciting, you can never count out Intel.

The first UWB from them is the Intel Wireless UWB Link 1480 media access controller (MAC) silicon, a host solution suitable for use with third party physical (PHY) layer chips. Intel's initial partner here is Alereon.

"Our MAC supports both USB and PCI interfaces, but the focus is on the host solution," says Jose Avalos, director of marketing for Intel's Ultrawideband Networking Operation.

The 1480 can handle concurrent support for IP streaming via the WiMedia Network (WiNET) standard and Certified Wireless USB traffic. "We can do both simultaneously," says Avalos. "It could talk to a hub and another host, for example."

He adds, "The good thing about our design is that it multiplexes both types of traffic with the required responsiveness needed for each protocol. Additionally, with our solution the bandwidth can be dynamically split in any percentage between IP and WUSB depending on the usage model." Wireless USB's theoretical max speed is 480 Megabits per second (Mbps).

The first customer for the 1480 is Belkin, letting the consumer product maker complete its UWB-based Wireless USB solution. Earlier this week the company announced that it is going with a chip from WiQuest Communications to make its wireless USB 4-Port Hub. Belkin spokesperson Melody Chalaban says they went with two providers because the "Intel solution supports IP connectivity whereas the WiQuest chip doesn't. And, the WiQuest chip offers a Hub solution whereas the Intel one does not." At least that's the case for now.

Belkin was a victim of Freescale Semiconductor's exit from the UWB market. The company had signed with Freescale last January to get chips to make its wireless USB products. However, the move could benefit Belkin in the long run, as its products will now be compliant with the WiMedia standard for UWB. That standard is the basis the USB Implementers Forum (USB-IF) is sticking with for its Certified Wireless USB.

HP was also part of Intel's announcement. They said the Intel chip is helping them "make significant progress in achieving UWB-based wireless connectivity between HP notebook PCs and our all-in-one printers."