The Wireless USB Promoter Gorup said this week that version 1.1 of the Wireless USB specification will include "touch and go" capabilities used by Near Field Communication (NFC) technology.
Put simply, the spec will allow devices to be brought into close proximity with the host, allowing them to be instantly associated, without the need for manual setup.
The Wireless USB specification, version 1.0, is slowly rolling out as part of wireless devices. Both IOGEAR and Icron have announced their own Wireless USB hubs, although both are pricey: $395, in the case of the Icron hub.
The 1.1 spec will be finalized in the first half of 2008. Typically, products based upon a new specification revision require an additional six months or so before they're brought to market.
In addition, the new spec will provide frequencies of above 6 GHz, and include provisions to enhance power efficiency for better battery life. The NFC protocols that the spec will support have been used in wireless payment applications, where a smartcard or a mobile phone is brought close to a receiver, and an encrypted data transmission is performed.
Wireless USB is, as the name suggests, a wireless version of the wired USB protocol, running over an ultrawideband radio. The specification is led by Intel, with many of the competing products shifting to trying to run high-def video and audio data between CE components.
"The Wireless USB 1.1 Specification builds on the key features – speed, ease of use, and security – that have made the 1.0 specification so successful," said Jeff Ravencraft, USB-IF president. "The Wireless USB Promoter Group will define new features that make a great specification even better to improve product offerings for manufacturers and ultimately enhance the end-user experience."
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