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An Introduction To Wireless USB (WUSB)

Posted by timothy on from the not-too-technical dept.

An anonymous reader writes "This technical whitepaper by Rafael Kolic, a technology marketing manager in Intel's Corporate Technology Group, introduces Wireless USB (WUSB) and explains how it will impact device performance and mobility. The latest iteration of USB technology, WUSB will offer the same functionality as standard wired USB devices -- but without the cabling."

8 of 330 comments (clear)

  1. Doesn't this already exist? by JayDiggity · · Score: 5, Informative

    Ummm.. don't we already have something for that called Bluetooth? Hrm.

    From the Bluetooth SIG Mission Statement:
    Develop, publish and promote the preferred short-range wireless specification for connecting mobile products...

    1. Re:Doesn't this already exist? by fyonn · · Score: 4, Informative

      actually, I think that the adoption of bluetooth has been pretty quick and fairly widespread. I'm in the UK and a large percentage of mobile phones come with bluetooth already and most of the ones due out soon include it. most of the current crop of pda's either have bluetooth on board or can be upgraded via a card to support it. you can buy countless BT headsets and hands free kits for your car and many laptops have it onboard.

      thats pretty much bluetooth's market sewn up. while it's true that most desktop's don't come with BT as standard, some do and it's only a 17 usb dongle away. I got a dlink BT dongle for my mac and it works like a charm to speak to my siemens mobile phone, I just wish the prices of BT memory sticks for my clie weren't so outrageous.

      sure it's not overly fast but it is easy and convenient and works. I thought it was doing pretty well.

      dave

      PS. saying that, has anyone else seen a bit of incompartibility between apple's bluetooth stack and a siemens mobile phone? I can sync over BT fine but sending txt's via it is problematical. it says everything is fine but alot of the time the txt's don't get sent. anyone else?

  2. Uh...this could be by iminplaya · · Score: 5, Informative

    a problem.

    --
    What?
  3. Basic Specs from the Article: by G4from128k · · Score: 3, Informative

    Speed? 480 Mbps (USB 2.0 equivalent)
    Security? unknown (better be good)
    Power requirements?100-300 mW
    Range? 10 meters
    Cost? unknown
    Number of Devices? 127

    --
    Two wrongs don't make a right, but three lefts do.
  4. Highlights by the+JoshMeister · · Score: 5, Informative

    Here are some highlights for those too lazy to skim the article (or in case it gets Slashdotted)...

    • The Wireless USB Promoter Group consists of (of course) Intel and MS, as well as HP, NEC, Philips Semiconductors, Samsung Electronics, and Agere Systems
    • WUSB hosts can connect to as many as 127 WUSB devices at a time
    • Targeted bandwidth of 480 Mbps (same as USB 2.0)
    • The biggest selling point seems to be that it "will offer the same functionality as standard wired USB devices but without the cabling"
    --
    the JoshMeister on Security
  5. Re:How does this excel existing standards? by Crypto+Gnome · · Score: 5, Informative
    (sigh) RTFA duude!
    • target 480Mbps (ie USB2) expect to hit 1Gbps at some point
    • Looks like they're spec'ing minimal "basic security" for the connection itself, as they go on to say "Higher levels of security involving encryption should be implemented at the application level", implying that encryption will not be part of the WUSB spec itself.
    • "For example, typical PDAs use 250-400 mW without a radio connection, while typical cellular phones use 200 mW-300 mW with the primary WAN radio. Adding a WUSB radio should not increase power requirements any more than existing wireless technologies already employed today. "
    • "connectivity at less than 10 meters"
    • Cost is a result of production, not (necessarily) something you can just spec in the design. Although they do say "Low-cost implementation of WUSB will also be important to the successful integration of the technology. Implementation will follow the wired USB connectivity models as closely as possible to reduce development time and to preserve the low-cost, easy-to-use model, which has become pervasive in the PC industry. "
    --
    Visit CryptoGnome in his home.
  6. Re:Neat by Have+Blue · · Score: 3, Informative

    Actually, the previous article was really "Bluetooth is dying because WUSB will kill it", so it's not so much a conspiracy as just a glut of news surrounding Intel's announcement.

  7. Re:"...without the cabling." by gabebear · · Score: 4, Informative
    These things are going to eat several times more power than a Bluetooth radio. The article says: "The power target for WUSB radio will be introduced at less than 300 mW and drive to a target of 100 mW over time."

    That's the same as lower power 802.11 cards

    Bluetooth chips generally eat less than 40mW, some as little as 20mW. I wouldn't put WUSB in a cell-phone.