802.11n May Never Happen Due to Patent Concerns

afabbro writes "The Register is reporting that the 802.11n standard is imperiled because the Commonwealth Science and Industrial Research Organization has refused to submit a Letter of Assurance, promising not to sue those who implement the standard. '...the realization that CSIRO holds essential patents, and has failed to provide a Letter of Assurance as required by the IEEE, could prevent the standard ever being finalized ... 802.11n promises to deliver a fivefold increase in speed, and double the range of 802.11g. Indeed in many cases it's already delivering something approximating that, as pre-standard kit has been available for almost a year. In May the Wi-Fi Alliance got so bored waiting for the IEEE to complete the standard that they started certifying kit as conforming to the draft, even though the final version isn't expected until 2008."

Comments

Re:Fury...building...

[Verte]

I hope the Australian government realizes that fact. I had the opportunity to speak with Labor's second in command, Julia Gillard, a few weeks ago. Of course the main issues I bought up with her were government transparency and copyright reform. Somehow, it didn't surprise me that she had never heard any such issues discussed. Not one person had bought them up. People seem more bothered about that house they bought when interest rates were 2% [now floating around the 7-8% mark?]. I guess I can see where they are coming from, of course, but while they have been distracted, we've been losing the battle on other fronts.

So no, they don't realise this fact, because the Australian public don't seem to care, or those that do are scared of politics.