Samsung Electronics and Staccato Communications, a start-up based in San Diego, agreed to jointly develop Ultra-wideband-based (UWB) technology for the Wireless Personal Area Network (WPAN) market and to collaborate on application development. The companies envision UWB-based products for very high bit-rate networks, up to 480 Mbps, based on Multiband OFDM technology. Staccato will benefit from Samsung's leadership in developing memory chipsets, CDMA mobile phones, consumer electronics and Radio Frequency (RF) technologies. Samsung will benefit from Staccato's UWB expertise. Availability of initial chipsets will be in conjunction with emerging IEEE 802.15.3a standard.http://samsungelectronics.com
http://www.staccatocommunications.com
- In May 2003, Staccato Communications (formerly Discrete Time Communications), a start-up based in San Diego, raised $7.5 million in Series A funding for its development of Ultra-wideband (UWB) technology. The company has completed a silicon prototype of a new architecture for UWB that is both compliant with the FCC's regulations and enables high bit-rate UWB in CMOS for the first time. Investors include Bay Partners, Charles River Ventures, and Allegis Capital.
- Staccato Communications was formed in early 2002 by Roberto Aiello, former founder and CEO of Fantasma Networks, and other UWB veterans, to pursue a fabless IC business model.
- In February 2003, the FCC issued new rules to allow commercial use of UWB radios in 7500MHz of spectrum between 3.1GHz and 10.6GHz. Shortly following this ruling, the IEEE formed a standards committee, 802.15.3a, which is in the process of developing a standard specification for UWB for use in Personal Area Networks (PANs).
- A new WiMedia Alliance has been organized to guarantee interoperability between various manufacturers much the same way that the WiFi Alliance does for 802.11 wireless LAN. http://www.wimedia.org
