Microsoft

Microsoft: FCC's tests validate white space

Lynnette Luna — Thu, 19 Jun 2008 00:41:42 -0400

Despite the fact that its prototypes malfunctioned during lab tests at the FCC, Microsoft says the FCC has gathered enough valid data to show that devices can operate in the white space spectrum without causing interference.

"The commission has gotten more than enough valuable and valid data to show that you can use these devices to do spectrum sensing, that you can identify TV channels, and that you can identity them to the level that you're not causing interference," Microsoft's Ian Ferrell said during a technology conference in San Francisco called Supernova. Last week, the FCC completed lab tests of white-space devices submitted by several different companies.

Microsoft's own white-space prototypes malfunctioned--one due to a faulty channel scanner the other due to overheating. The National Association of Broadcasters (NAB), which is vehemently opposed to the use of white space because it fears interference problems with TV signals, has used that as ammunition to say that these devices cause interference. Ferrell insists FCC tests have shown interference isn't a problem.

For its part, the FCC says it will undergo another round of testing in the field within the next few weeks. Microsoft has withdrawn its faulty prototypes, but FCC engineers are still studying devices from Philips, Motorola, and Adaptrum, a Silicon Valley white-space startup.

For more:
- read The Register

Related stories:
Google's Page pushes white-space agenda Google story
Google, Philips, Moto submit white space device White space story

White-space broadband gets more and more complicated

Thu, 01 May 2008 06:59:58 -0400

Google, Microsoft and other companies advocating the use of unlicensed white-space spectrum for wireless broadband had to have believed earlier this year that the FCC was going to rubber-stamp the process with relative ease. After all, the commission itself wants to see white-space spectrum.

But now opposition is mounting and the FCC still hasn't gotten over that pesky interference problem. In 2007, the FCC's Office of Engineering and Technology found through preliminary trials of the prototypes that "the transmitter in the prototype device is capable of causing interference to TV broadcasting and wireless microphones." Testing continues and hasn't put these devices in the clear.

The National Association of Broadcasters (NAB) is waging a bitter fight against white-white space spectrum, fearing interference with the industry's television signals. CTIA now wants white-space spectrum licensed. And more recently, (see story no. 2) hospital technology groups and vendors in the sector are urging the FCC to be careful about allowing unlicensed white-space devices because some of the channels could cause interference with medical devices.

And it won't be long until other groups come forward concerned about the interference problem with wireless microphones. Interestingly, country western artists that include Rascal Flatts, LeAnn Rimes and Martina McBride have mentioned their concern about how interference with their wireless microphones would affect their live concerts, noted Shure Inc., which provides wireless microphone systems. We will likely see some powerful opposition from other members of the music and entertainment industry and those that have a heavily reliance on wireless microphones.

All of this means the FCC has to take a long and thoughtful approach to how it might allow unlicensed white-spectrum devices. Much to the chagrin of Google, we won't likely see any approval this year or even early next year. While the commission was hoping white spaces would provide another avenue to offer more broadband competition, the issues surrounding the spectrum seems to get more complicated by the day. Any move without significant and thorough testing could prove to be disastrous.--Lynnette

P.S. Every year FierceWireless editors evaluate hundreds of the most innovative and smart emerging companies in the wireless industry. Check out our final selection--the top 15--in FierceWireless' annual Fierce 15 list. See it here!

The drama continues over white-space spectrum

Mon, 25 Feb 2008 06:59:55 -0500

The drama over white-space spectrum--those airwaves that sit between broadcasters' HDTV spectrum--continues as the National Association of Broadcasters (NAB) claims the Federal Communications Commission's testing of a Microsoft prototype failed. It's a claim that the White Space Coalition says is untrue.

NAB, which has been a fierce opponent of the use of white spaces because of interference fears, declared earlier this month that a prototype submitted by Microsoft lost power during FCC testing. The power failure comes after another white spaces device malfunctioned in tests run by the FCC last year.

The White Space Coalition, which includes Microsoft, Philips, Dell and Google, says the NAB is mischaracterizing the issue. Ed Thomas, a tech adviser to the coalition and former chief of the FCC's Office of Engineering and Technology, said the power supply of the device failed after several hours of continuous testing, and it did not interfere with televisions signals because of the power failure.

Thomas said the NAB was engaged in "rhetoric" designed to complicate the FCC's device testing. "Let this be based on science, not politics," Thomas said of the FCC's tests. "Let the facts prevail."

NAB Executive VP Dennis Wharton disagreed, saying, "The devices they've tested haven't performed the way they were expected to perform. That, in our view, constitutes a failure."

If the FCC approves the devices this year, commercial white spaces wireless devices could be available as soon as late 2009. Testing is still going on at the FCC for several more weeks.

To read more about the the white space drama:
- check out this article from IDG News Service

Related articles:
FCC begins second round of white-space testing Report
Google, Philips, Moto submit white space devices Report

Siemens says it solved 802.11n power problem

Mon, 28 Jan 2008 06:59:54 -0500

Siemens said it is launching a WLAN system based on 802.11n that can run on normal power over Ethernet--a feat other players have not managed to do. The vendor says it is using two concurrent radios, both running 3 X 3 MIMO with all the features running at 12W.

Other enterprise WiFi vendors say that two 802.11n radios require 15W, which is a higher power requirement than what can be delivered over powered Ethernet. Others have come up with various solutions to deal with the power problem, including using fewer antennas or proprietary power over Ethernet. Siemens doesn't use any of these approaches but won't divulge much about how it accomplished this capability.

To read more about Siemens' claims:
- take a look at this article from TechWeb

Related articles:
Siemens CEO dropped in scandal fallout Report
ABI: Siemens trumps Microsoft on middleware Report

FCC begins second round of white-space testing

Tue, 22 Jan 2008 06:59:55 -0500

During its open meeting last week, the FCC announced its schedule for testing four new devices designed to operate in white-space spectrum--those airwaves that sit between broadcasters' high-definition TV airwaves. The FCC is reviewing four devices from Microsoft, Philips, Motorola and Adaptrum as part of Phase II of white space testing. The FCC laboratory will commence testing the devices next week and expects the tests to continue for about four to six weeks. Field testing will follow the lab tests and take an additional four to six weeks.

Last year,a group of high-tech companies that include Google, Intel, Dell, HP and Microsoft, which collectively formed the White Space Coalition, delivered to the FCC two WiFi devices that the group claimed operated in this spectrum without interfering with high-definition TV. However, the FCC's Office of Engineering and Technology found in preliminary trials of the prototypes that "the transmitter in the prototype device is capable of causing interference to TV broadcasting and wireless microphones." However, the FCC is committed to making sure white-space spectrum is used to usher in more broadband competition.

For more of coverage of last week's FCC meeting:
- read the full article here
- also check out the FCC press release on Phase II

Related articles:
Sprint, T-Mobile advocate white space for backhaul Report
FCC to revisit white spaces Report
Interest in white spaces heats up Report
White space concepts go back to drawing board Report

White space fight gets ugly

Mon, 14 Jan 2008 06:59:56 -0500

The battle over white space spectrum, those unused airwaves that sit between spectrum licensed to television broadcasters, continues to heat up. The Wireless Innovation Alliance, a newly launched alliances focusing on regulations for white space broadband services, called on the broadcast industry to end its mis-characterization of the FCC's efforts to test white space devices. The alliance, whose 15 members include Google, Microsoft, HP and Dell, said the National Association of Broadcasters has launched a public misinformation campaign surrounding the FCC's testing initiatives around white space devices.

"Upcoming testing of white space concept devices is meant to assist [Federal Communication Commission] engineers to craft the strongest possible rules while ensuring maximum public benefit. Yet instead of respecting the FCC's desire to perform concept testing, your recent public misinformation campaign has confused the testing process and misled the public and policy-makers," stated the Wireless Innovation Alliance in a letter to NAB President David Rehr.

Google, in particular, is taking issue with NAB's assertion that the FCC has tested white space devices from Google and found they interfered with TV spectrum.

"A successful consumer transition from analog to digital television is now imperiled by a cadre of companies that have been hoisted on their own flawed technology petard," Dennis Wharton, NAB executive vice president told RCR Wireless News. "Try as they might, portable unlicensed device advocates like Google and Microsoft cannot run and hide from the fact that their own technology utterly failed FCC testing. That is not 'misinformation,' but rather an inconvenient truth."

Indeed, initial tests the FCC has conducted on supposedly defective Microsoft devices found interference problems with television signals, but the commission is expected to enter a second round of testing shortly.

For more about the sparring between broadcasters and high-tech companies:
- read this article from RCR Wireless News

Related articles:
Sprint, T-Mobile advocate white space for backhaul Report
Google steps up white space efforts Report

New group formed to push white-space services

Thu, 13 Dec 2007 06:59:56 -0500

A coalition of technology companies, public-interest advocates, think tanks and higher education organizations launched an alliance designed to work with the Federal Communications Commission and other policymakers to develop regulations that will enable the use of television "white space" for broadband services. White space is the unused spectrum that sits between airwaves licensed to television broadcasters.

The Wireless Innovation Alliance's 15 members include Google, Microsoft, HP and Dell. Those are the same names that have been involved with the While Space Coalition, which earlier this year delivered to the FCC two WiFi devices the group claimed operated in this spectrum without interfering with high-definition TV. However, the FCC's Office of Engineering and Technology found through preliminary trials of the prototypes that "the transmitter in the prototype device is capable of causing interference to TV broadcasting and wireless microphones."

Google recently presented results of an "initial phase of ongoing trials" around white space technology it says demonstrates digital televisions and wireless services can exist side-by-side without interference.

To read more about the Wireless Innovation Alliance:
- check out this release

Related articles:
- FCC revisits white space Article
- Microsoft offers WiFi prototype for TV white space Article

Study shows untapped mobile broadband PC market

Thu, 15 Nov 2007 06:59:54 -0500

Research from the GSM Association and Microsoft suggests significant demand for mobile broadband embedded notebooks exists at the right form factor, price and out-of-the-box connectivity. The GSMA and Microsoft believe the addressable market for laptops with embedded mobile broadband is around 70 million units globally, which would translate into $50 billion in potential revenues. The study concludes that if PC manufacturers delivered the right mobile broadband notebook complete with pre-configured mobile connectivity and a price tag between $500 and $1000, they could reap the revenues.

To read more:
- take a look at this article from telecoms.com

FCC to continue white space testing

Thu, 11 Oct 2007 06:59:55 -0400

The FCC said it will continue to test whether WiFi and other short-range wireless technology enabled devices can work in the white spaces between TV broadcast spectrum. In August Microsoft submitted a prototype of such a device to the FCC, which found that it interfered with the surrounding TV frequencies. A device submitted by Philips Electronics managed to get past the first round of testing, but the TV industry pointed to the Microsoft device as evidence that allowing white-space devices is a risky proposition. The device makers now claim they have evidence from field tests that such devices can work without interference.

For more on the white-space debate:
- read this article from RCRNews

CSIRO ready for WiFi patent fight

Thu, 04 Oct 2007 06:59:57 -0400

The Australian government's research body CSIRO, which claims to hold critical WiFi patents, won't give the IEEE its assurance that it will refrain from suing companies that release next-generation WiFi equipment based on the draft 802.11n standard.

The Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) wrote to the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organization (CSIRO) asking the research group to promise it won't sue over the release of pre-802.11n equipment. Denis Redfern, vice president of licensing with CSIRO, said the research body is "happy to confirm that CSIRO continues to be willing to license these patents on a worldwide basis to manufacturers of notebook computers, access points and other wireless-enabled products that would otherwise infringe the patents." Redfern added that reaching licensing agreements have "proved not to be possible" to date, as licensing terms CSIRO has made to manufacturers have been rejected.

CSIRO already has won a patent lawsuit against Buffalo Technology. Dell, Intel, Microsoft, HP and Netgear last year filed suit to overturn CSIRO's patents.

What's at stake? Steep licensing fees to CSIRO from makers of a whole host of WiFi products. Although some industry experts say the risk is overblown.

For more about CSIRO's WiFi patents:
- read this article from ZDNet

ALSO NOTED: Microsoft may be working on a Zune phone; Alvarion chosen for Russian WiMAX deployments; and much more...

Thu, 06 Sep 2007 06:59:51 -0400

> Champaign, Ill., is getting an outdoor WiFi solution using adaptive beam forming smart antennas from NextWave's Go Networks. Article

> Microsoft may be working on a Zune phone. Article

> Alvarion announced that its BreezeMAX WiMAX system was chosen for a deployment project intended to cover various cities in Russia. Release

> 3 Scandinavia and Nokia Siemens Networks have launched a commercial 3G Push-to-Talk and Presence service in Sweden. Release

And Finally... The Wall Street Journal's Walter Mossberg gives his assessment of T-Mobile's UMA service. Article (WSJ sub. req.)

Aruba moving on up in enterprise WiFi

Mon, 20 Aug 2007 06:59:54 -0400

WLAN vendor Aruba has nearly doubled its market share since going public in March. Thanks to going public, customers are comfortable with Aruba's long-term viability, says Aruba founder Keerti Melkote. Aruba recently won a contract with Prudential Fox & Roach, the country's largest single-market real estate firm. It has landed several high-profile contracts, including a deal with the U.S. Air Force, Ohio State University and Microsoft.

Aruba reported in May that revenue increased to $34.7 million, up 30 percent quarter over quarter and up 65 percent from the previous year. It was the company's first break-even quarter since its inception in 2002.

However, Aruba has a long way to go before it catches up with heavyweight Cisco. According to research company Dell'Oro Group, Cisco's market share sits around 64 percent.

For more about Aruba's surge:
- check out this article from InformationWeek

ALSO NOTED: Time to upgrade your WiFi router?; virtual benchmarking of WLANs is the way to go; and much more...

Mon, 01 Jan 2007 19:01:31 -0500

> Is it the right time to upgrade your WiFi router? Analysts say wait.

> Farpoint's Craig Mathias loves benchmarking, ad he suggests that virtual benchmarking of WLANs is the way to go.

And finally... This is how USAToday puts it: "If Apple's iPod is the nicely tuned Porsche of portable media players and Microsoft's Zune is the Jetta, then a new WiFi-enabled unit from Archos is the Hummer, a brutish performer with all the tools to navigate the rugged terrain of technology needs on the go." The handheld Archos 604-WiFi, which retails at about $450, plays a variety of audio and video formats, and networks with the home PC. Review

Vista's WiFi "sleep" mode problematic

Mon, 11 Dec 2006 19:01:33 -0500

When a product manager for a large company writes that the product will have certain functions, customers take note. Who better to know? This was the case a week ago when Windows Vista product manager Jason Leznek posted on the Microsoft Windows Vista team blog (the post is apparently deleted now?) that Vista would support a "sleep" function for WiFi connections. Leznek was referring to the post-RC1 changes to wireless networking settings for laptops. Arstechnica's Ken Fisher looked into the matter, and found out that some qualifications need to be introduced here.

He writes that Microsoft had created "medium power" settings as the default to be used when a laptop was running on battery power, and that this default setting was using a sleep function which is now integral to 802.11. Fisher says that rather than "sleep," we would be better off referring to this function as "micro-sleep" (my suggestion: "nap") because the low-power mode does not shut down the adapter. Rather, it instructs the APs to place packets in queue and deliver them in larger bunches in order to allow the adapter rest time between updates. The problem? Beta tests showed that some older routers failed to recognize newer clients as being in sleep mode, so packets were lost. In response, Microsoft changed the default mode from "medium" to "maximum power," allowing customers or OEM to determine for themselves how to set this function.

Fisher is right to note that what we see here is an indication of a larger problem: "This is the sort of problem that can happen when new standards are augmented before all the ramifications have been worked out--the concerns over interoperability between various devices implementing the not-yet-ratified 802.11n standard are another example of this effect."

For more on Windows Vista sleep mode:
- Ken Fisher's Arstechnica comment
- Jason Leznek's December 4th blog posting (Google cached version)
- and Gregg Keizer's TechWeb report
- See DailyTechRag's coverage of Vista's sleep function.

Siemens's HiPath Wireless manager integrated with NAP

Mon, 20 Nov 2006 19:01:35 -0500

Here is good news on the security front: Unstrung's Dan Jones reports that Siemens has integrated its HiPath Wireless manager software with Microsoft's network access protection (NAP) code. Network administrators will thus be able to monitor users who join the network and enforce security policies. NAP is is a policy enforcement technology built into the the Windows Vista and Windows Server operating systems. It aims to offer better protection against laptop-borne viruses and similar disruptions. Jones writes that NAP will be available to the public with Beta 2 of Windows Vista, and to select customers with Beta 2 of the future version of Windows Server ("Longhorn").

Here is how NAP works: When a client tries to access the network or communicate on the network, it must "convince" the network that its (the client's) own state of system health is sound and provide proof of health compliance. If a client cannot prove it is compliant with system health requirements (say, that it has the latest operating system and antivirus updates installed), then NAP limits its access to the network or communication on the network to a restricted network containing server resources so that health compliance issues can be addressed, for example, by installing the required updates. After the updates are installed, the client again must request access to the network or permission to communicate on the network. If the client is determined to be compliant, the client is granted unlimited access to the network or the communication is allowed.

The move to integrate such protective measures into products (Cisco has done so as well) is relatively new, as such added protection was more often than not purchased as an add-on from a third party.

For more on NAP
- see Dan Jones's Unstrung report

For more on NAP
- see Microsoft's official NAP page
- see the Microsoft NAP product team NAP blog
- and Microsoft's NAP FAQ

For more on HiPath Wireless manager
- see this Siemens document

SPOTLIGHT: Zune is here

Mon, 13 Nov 2006 19:01:32 -0500

Bryan Lee, corporate vice president for the entertainment business at Microsoft, said: "There were no walls and no barriers. That was the physical aspect and emotional aspect." He was referring to the intense collaboration between Toshiba and Microsoft in designing and manufacturing the Zune, Microsoft's response to the iPod. How intense was the collaboration? J. Allard, co-creator of the Xbox and Microsoft's corporate vice president for design and development, said: "We went from zero to 60 miles an hour in no time flat." Zune will allow songs, entire albums (with album art and other information) and whole playlists to be selected and wirelessly transmitted to any other Zune within range. Users are prompted to accept or deny the transfer; senders may also be blocked. Report

Easier WiFi set up in Windows Vista

Mon, 29 May 2006 20:01:35 -0400

WiFi equipment prices have been steadily falling, leading to cut-throat competition among WiFi vendors. The last thing they need, therefore, is the high return rate--currently at 30 percent at retail--for their products. They will be glad to know that Windows Vista has an easier WiFi set up feature which will likely contribute to a reduction in return rate. The WiFi setup feature in Vista (called Windows Connect Now-NET, which is a new version of the Windows Connect Now feature in Windows XP) is Microsoft's implementation of the WiFi Simple Config technology developed by the WiFi Alliance to address this issue.

The OS acts as a registrar which provides network settings to new devices (called "enrollees") once they are authenticated, that is, they must prove they are your devices and not a neighbor's or intruder's. Vista's registrar communicates with a new network device using Universal Plug and Play (UPnP) technology, either directly (if the enrollee is connected via Ethernet) or wirelessly through a WiFi router that has already been set up on the network (note, though, that Vista ships without support for wireless setup of the first WiFi router on a network; Microsoft says it will add that ability later via a software update).

The registrar in Vista is launched either through the OS's new Network Explorer (which is actively looking for the presence of new connected devices) or its Network Center. Once a new device is discovered, the registrar software prompts the user to authenticate the device by typing in a PIN provided with the device. The user then selects which existing network profile settings to apply to the device (that is, network SSID and passphrase) or create new settings. Microsoft says there are provisions for dealing with legacy equipment that does not have a PIN, and that vendors may be able to add WCN-NET technology to some devices via a firmware upgrade.

So here is the main advantage: For all but the first WiFi router on a network, setup is completely wireless and the only work a user performs is to find and enter a new device's PIN. This approach also offer more security since the network will only permit communication between authenticated devices.

For more on WiFi on Windows Vista:
- see this Webwereld report

Microsoft develops WiFi-based alternative to GPS

Tue, 26 Jul 2005 20:01:35 -0400

Microsoft has embarked on an ambitious plan to create a ground-based alternative tracking system to the satellite-based GPS. Microsoft already operates cars in many U.S. and UK cities; these cars trawl the streets to locate WiFi signals. Microsoft has also used light aircraft to take detailed aerial pictures of cities and suburbs across the country. The company says it has already built a database containing the whereabouts of "millions" (the company would not say how many millions) of WiFi networks.

Microsoft says it is collecting only the unique identifier, or MAC address, that each WiFi network broadcasts. The MAC address cannot be traced to a street address or an individual user. By recording the position of each MAC address on a giant map, Microsoft has created a positioning system which should make it possible for anyone with a WiFi-enabled laptop computer to identify their location to within 30 meters or so. Privacy advocacy groups say that the combination of powerful tracking methods wedded to accurate maps available on the internet pose new threats to privacy.

For more on Microsoft's latest plan
-see this MSNBC report
-Microsoft's release about its Virtual Earth location finder
-Microsoft's Virtual Earth U.S. map
-see this Michael Kanelos's c|netnews report on a similar effort by Intel

PLUS: Wherify Wireless has some interesting ideas about the design -- and audience -- for its GPS locater phone. Release.