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UWB Forum Focuses on Commercialization of High-Rate Wireless Technology (10/2/2006)

Revised Market Forecast Shows Direct-Sequence Ultra-Wideband Gaining Momentum

The UWB Forum reinforced its commitment to the commercialization of Ultra-Wideband (UWB) technology worldwide, following a meeting of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) held here this week. The IEEE 802.15.3a task group (TG3a) members voted to withdraw the January 2003 project authorization request (PAR) that initiated the development of UWB standards, leaving the market to determine a de facto standard for UWB.

This move, along with recent UWB developments and consumer product announcements, prompted a revised market forecast from West Technology Research relative to direct sequence-UWB, a version of UWB supported by the UWB Forum. "The emergence of UWB-based products into the consumer marketplace marks the beginning of the race," according to Kirsten West, Ph.D, Principal Analyst with West Technology Research Solutions, a market research firm exclusively covering emerging wireless technologies. "DS-UWB, being the technology that has reached this starting line first, is likely to dominate the marketplace for the foreseeable future. Based on the DS-UWB-enabled products shown by Gefen and Belkin at CES 2006, as well as other industry developments, we have increased our UWB shipment forecast for 2006 to 3.8 million units, with DS-UWB taking essentially the entire share of the market. This moves the competition out of the realm of the standards bodies and will lead the decision of which UWB technology will prevail in the hands of the consumer."

Indeed, recent product announcements and awards granted at this year's Consumer Electronics Show (CES) highlight the strong market momentum for DS-UWB and CWave(TM) UWB, as well as other UWB Forum member UWB technologies.

As shown in the multiple demonstrations at CES 2006, the UWB Forum members showcased the benefits of Ultra-Wideband (UWB) for emerging mobile, infotainment, entertainment and PC applications. Solutions demonstrated on both Freescale and Pulse-LINK UWB platforms ranged from wireless USB 2.0 over UWB, Bluetooth(R) Wireless Technology over UWB, wireless DVI component video, 1394-over coax via UWB and UWB HDTV over electrical wire.

"The UWB Forum has seen an incredible level of interest in developing products, and we are excited by the overwhelming response to the key activities that took place at this year's CES," said Robert Eisses, UWB Forum Marketing. Committee Chairman. "CES set the stage for our members and developers to experience the true value of UWB technology, and we are eager to see the rollout of innovative consumer products throughout the year. We remain committed to the continued commercialization of UWB solutions and the consumer products that leverage this innovative wireless technology."

UWB was well received by attendees and media alike at CES, with UWB Forum members and their customers receiving accolades for their innovative technology and products. Awards included:

-- CNET Best of CES Winner: Belkin for its Cable-Free USB hub using Freescale's UWB

-- CNET Best of CES Finalist: Freescale for its Cable-Free USB technology powered by UWB

-- Popular Mechanics Editor's Choice: Belkin for its Cable-Free USB hub using Freescale's UWB

-- NewsTips Cherry Pick for the top 75 technologies at CES: Icron for its ExtremeUSB for wireless USB Technology

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