Technobabble: Wireless beyond Wi-Fi

Wi-Fi and Bluetooth have been around for a while now, and most of us who are even the slightest bit technology-oriented have been using both for years. You probably use a Wi-Fi network to access the web wirelessly and Bluetooth to transfer pictures from your phone to your computer or to talk with a headset. Pretty simple.

But did you know that there are two more standards getting ready to hit the big time?

WiMax, not a Nintendo gaming superstore
The first thing you’re going to start hearing about is called WiMax. It works in a similar fashion to Wi-Fi, but with big differences with regard to range and speed. Unlike Wi-Fi, which works up to 300 feet away on a good day, a WiMax signal is capable of traveling up to 30 miles, assuming a clear line of sight. Though it can reach speeds of up to 70Mbps (megabits per second), the data speed does decline as you move away from the broadcast tower. In real life, you can expect to get reasonable data speeds (similar to Wireless-G) over a 4- to 5-mile range.

WiMax is useful for “Internet anywhere” applications, especially in places where a broadband connection simply doesn’t exist. WiMax is already available in select cities through ClearWire and is coming soon with Sprint’s Xohm service. If you have a laptop, you can get a WiMax adapter that will allow you to get online anywhere within the service area.

UWB—the new key to a truly wireless TV
The second one you’ll see soon is Ultra-Wideband (UWB) technology, also known as Wireless-USB (WUSB). This technology uses rapid, low-powered bursts to transmit huge amounts of information over short distances—and it’s fast. It’ll reach speeds somewhere in the neighborhood of 480Mbps at distances up to 10 feet and 110Mbps at up to 30 feet. Think of it as Bluetooth on steroids. Because UWB requires so little power, it’s ideal for portable devices like cell phones and cameras, as well as peripherals like printers, scanners and video game controllers.

Another place UWB is being used is in TVs. An HDTV with UWB capability can be wall-mounted without needing to physically connect with any cables at all. Components can be connected to a separate tuner box, which can then be placed anywhere within 10 to 15 feet of the TV. The tuner box processes the signals and transmits all data wirelessly to the TV. You’ll finally be able to put your TV in one place and your A/V components in another, anywhere in the room. Toshiba is already incorporating UWB into its Wooo line of TVs (currently available only in Japan), and other companies are working on add-on UWB devices that connect to your existing TV using an HDMI dongle.

Are these technologies going to replace Wi-Fi and Bluetooth any time soon? Probably not. But watch for both to start gaining traction later this year and really take off in 2009. And if they don’t? Get back to me in 2010.

—Matthew West