WIth the acquisition of chipset developer Wilocity, Qualcomm has taken its steps towards delivering multi-gigabit wireless with 60 GHz technology for mobile, computing and networking devices.
WIlocity is a wireless chipset developer that uses the IEEE 802.11ad standard, also known as WiGig technology, on its platforms.
Amir Faintuch, president of Qualcomm Atheros, said the technology could help transfer multiple video streams in 4K, where Wi-Fi can only handle one.
"If you are a leader in Wi-Fi you have to have WiGig," Faintuch said. "If you don’t have it in time, you have a problem."
Qualcomm is now set to deliver the range of tri-band platforms using WiGig technology.
The initial tri-band platform is a design based on the Qualcomm Snapdragon 810, and can also enable faster peer-to-peer content sharing, networking, wireless docking, and media backup as well as 4K streaming.
Faintuch said: "Qualcomm is continually innovating and investing in leadership technologies to drive value for our customers while creating new growth opportunities for our mobile, computing and networking platforms. WiGig will play an important role in Qualcomm’s strategy to address consumers’ increasingly sophisticated smartphone, tablet and computing requirements to support applications — such as immediate streaming of 4K video and high throughput peer-to-peer communication to enable the next generation of social interactions between users sharing content."
Sujai Hajela, SVP of Cisco’s enterprise networking group, said: "Tri-band wireless capabilities will revolutionise enterprise computing and networking, with enterprises benefiting immensely.
"The multi-gigabit performance and enhanced network capacity that is delivered through WiGig will dramatically alter the way people access and use network-based resources. It’s great to be working with an industry leader like Qualcomm, who is investing in the latest technologies and driving an ecosystem that can take advantage of them."
Qualcomm Atheros has been an investor in Wilocity since 2008 and this collaboration is now expanding into Qualcomm’s mobile and networking designs, with the Snapdragon 810 becoming one of the world’s first mobile platform to support tri-band wireless.
"Qualcomm Atheros and Wilocity have a successful history of collaboration and share a culture of invention," said Tal Tamir, chief executive officer, Wilocity. "The Wilocity team will build upon Qualcomm’s strengths and leadership to collaboratively deliver innovative wireless technology for mobile, computing and networking customers to address the needs of an increasingly connected world. We are excited to join forces to take our 60 GHz vision to the next level and scale."
