Qualcomm Atheros Debuts Tri-Band Wi-Fi Chip with In-room 60 GHz

Qualcomm Atheros introduced the industry's first tri-band Wi-Fi chipset that integrates the multi-gigabit performance of in-room 60 GHz band with seamless handoff to 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz band Wi-Fi.



The new AR9004TB solution, which was developed in partnership with Wilocity, a developer of 60 GHz multi-gigabit wireless chipsets, could support a range of applications, from I/O to video to networking, at the same speeds as equivalent wired connectivity technologies.



This could include devices using 802.11n Wi-Fi for whole home connectivity along with 802.11ad for networked synchronization of HD movies in seconds (versus tens of minutes), I/O connection to USB3/SATA hard drives, instant "sync and go" between mobile platforms, streaming display to projectors/TVs/monitors, and high-performance wireless docking.



The 60 GHz technology found in AR9004TB is based on the latest specifications from the Wireless Gigabit Alliance and IEEE 802.11ad and will be Wi-Fi Alliance certified. The AR9004TB also supports the latest Bluetooth 4.0 specification, which includes both high-speed and low-energy operation to extend personal area connectivity to a variety of devices. It includes a new message-based coexistence interface that allows superior interference avoidance and cancellation for Wi-Fi and Bluetooth coexistence.



"The new AR9004TB solution strengthens and expands our industry-leading portfolio of wireless and wired connectivity technologies for consumer and enterprise devices," said Amir Faintuch, senior vice president and general manager, consumer business unit, Qualcomm Atheros. "By incorporating 60 GHz multi-gigabit transfer with proven 802.11n Wi-Fi technologies, Qualcomm Atheros and Wilocity are creating an even more valuable offering for customers looking to expand their presence in the market. AR9004TB will allow users to enjoy new generations of rich applications in the home and at work while also helping keep their devices and information fully synchronized."

http://www.atheros.com