Intel has managed to integrate onto a single chip all of the elements a device needs to connect to a WLAN. The prototype supports 802.11a/b/g but should also be able to meet the projected requirements of the forthcoming 802.11n standard. Intel's ultimate goal is to build a communications chip that can connect to any type of wireless network, including WiFi and WiMax, as well as PANs like Bluetooth and UWB. Once in production, the technology should enable wireless device manufacturers to build products that are smaller, less expensive and more power thrifty. The chip still requires additional testing and government approval and is at least two years away from production.
"This system-in-a-package design uses more low-voltage circuitry than we've ever used in the past, which means we can integrate it and make it lower cost while operating at lower voltages and providing longer battery life," said Krishnamurthy Soumyanath, director of Intel's Communications Circuits Research Lab. "The variable bandwidth of this solution extends capabilities beyond today's 20 MHz to 100 MHz, and is expected to support data rates higher than 100 megabits per second that should allow people to enjoy multiple high-quality video streams concurrently."
For more on Intel's all-in-one wireless chip:
- read this company press release