WiGig to Power Wireless USB Standard

The Wi-Fi Alliance and USB Implementers Forum (USB-IF) have teamed up to power a new wireless version of USB using the WiGig high-speed wireless standard. It could help cut the USB cable and go wireless instead.

This month, the Alliance transferred a specification for the WiGig technology to the USB-IF. WiGig allows devices to communicate at short range and at multi-gigabit speeds. It can achieve a 7 Gbit/s rate using the unlicensed 60 GHz band. (It is also line-of-sight, but devices could seamlessly migrate from WiGig to Wi-Fi if the user moves out of the room.)

The USB-IF had previously pushed ultrawideband as a solution for cutting USB cables. While that technology can pass through walls, not many products were launched.

With its new Media Agnostic USB standard, USBs can use any wireless system, including WiGig, Wi-Fi and ultrawideband. The standard will incorporate compliance with SuperSpeed USB (USB 3.0) and Hi-Speed USB (USB 2.0).

The Wi-Fi alliance is expected to start certifying WiGig-compliant products next year ,and plans to partner with other industry bodies to certify products designed for specific applications. The group is already working with the Video Electronics Standards Association (VESA), in addition to USB-IF.

Source: PC World