Eric Griffith

Under terms of a new agreement announced today, Socket Communications (Nasdaq:SCKT) (PSE:SOK) will be selling new products using technology from Symbol Technologies (NYSE:SBL) to its distribution partners in retail and e-commerce. The products will initially include a Compact Flash 802.11b card suitable for use in Pocket PC/Windows CE personal digital assistants, as well as mobile […]

In a new report out today entitled “Public Access WLAN in Europe: A Technology in Search of a Business Case?”, the Yankee Group‘s Declan Lonergan says that public wireless LANs (PWLANs) in Europe will not have a major impact on the existing 3G wireless telecommunications networks there. “I have seen and heard it discussed numerous […]

Fabless chip start-up Synad Technologies has in hand a working Mercury5G, the two-chip dual-band wireless LAN chip set they announced in 2001. The Mercury5G will support both 802.11b and 802.11a networks for seamless client roaming. The Mercury5G will include system drivers, protocol software, reference designs and a developer’s kit for OEMs wanting to use the […]

GRIC Communications of Milpitas, CA, announced Wednesday that the company will be reducing its global work force by 10% (16 people) in an effort to “help achieve profitability this year.” Most of the layoffs will occur in the company’s marketing, engineering and general & administrative areas. Charges for restructuring and associated charges will include up […]

Agere Systems isn’t letting a little thing like having Proxim soon take over its products business stop it from putting out more products. This week, the company announced a new ORiNOCO branded outdoor access point, but also a software update for all the company’s outdoor products. The new ORiNOCO OR-500 is a $795 outdoor unit […]

Sacramento-based BWS Tech Inc, Approval Specialists, a company that specializes in getting certifications and approvals for telecom and IT in foreign markets, has released a report on where various countries in the world stand on the adoption of the 802.11a 54Mbps wireless LAN standard. The report is geared toward WLAN product vendors who might be […]

Redwood Shores, CA-based iPass hopes that this week’s free release of its “generic interface specification” (GIS) to the general public will help push it into becoming a de facto standard for roaming between wireless LANs. The number of public hotspots currently open in the use is estimated at 4,100 by In-Stat/MDR (growing to 10 times […]

In Boston earlier this week, the non-profit Pass-One wireless Internet service provider (WISP) association announced in April held its first official meeting, with the goal of establishing a standard for roaming wireless access service that can be used globally. Member networks using this standard in the future will be certified as compliant by Pass-One, and […]

Wireless ISP Joltage Networks is teaming with high-speed Internet provider Atlas Broadband to continue a push for more and higher utilization public-access hotspots in the U.S. by offering free access points to Atlas customers that want to become Joltage partners. Joltage provides the free software and backend services (authentication, tracking, billing, remuneration, security, etc.) needed […]

Toshiba’s Computer Systems Group this week unveiled positioning for its Magnia SG20 Wireless Media Center, an Ethernet and 802.11b (via a PC Card) compatible network server that was previously marketed to the enterprise, but will now also be targeted at consumers. The SG20 is essentially a combination broadband Internet sharing router (via 802.11b and 7-port […]

NextComm of Bellevue, WA, is entering the 802.11 silicon arena with hopes of improving wireless LAN security, especially for home and SOHO users. The NextCom NC7010 is a Media Access Control (MAC) chip that controls data packet flow across a 802.11b WLAN system. It’s suitable for use in CardBus, miniPCI and access point/gateway products. The […]

Looking to concentrate business in the semiconductor area of WLANs, Allentown, PA-based Agere Systems has agreed to sell its 802.11 equipment business, including the ORiNOCO line of products, to Proxim Corporation of Sunnyvale, CA for $65 million in cash. Agere will retain its core business of chips, modules and card components. Proxim’s take will include […]