WiMedia Alliance Extends Specifications for Worldwide Adoption

SAN RAMON, CA--(Marketwire - August 27, 2008) - The WiMedia Alliance today announced the adoption of the Spectrum Extension Release (SER) update to its UWB Radio specifications. This extension to the existing specifications adds optional features to address certain worldwide regulatory requirements which will allow even broader deployment of the WiMedia common radio platform.

"The SER specification is very significant to implementers of WiMedia radios as it defines important features such as three new channels, tone nulling capabilities which can be used to avoid interference with other spectrum users, and it defines a new bandgroup (BG6), which facilitate greater worldwide use," said Stephen Wood, President of the WiMedia Alliance. "What this means is that an OEM/ODM could offer a SKU which is suitable for use in all regions worldwide that have approved the use of the ultrawideband (UWB) spectrum."

With the definition of BG6 (which utilizes the existing UWB bands 9, 10 and 11) manufacturers can now implement 3-band hopping radios on a global basis (subject to local regulatory restrictions). In addition, the SER specification also defines three new 2-band hopping channels (TFI2) which allow radios to increase range (compared to single band operation) when only 2 bands are available for use. Furthermore, the specification also defines "tone nulling" capabilities, to avoid interference with other radios that may be sharing a portion of the same band, in accordance with local regulatory requirements for Detect And Avoid capability (DAA).

Worldwide Regulatory Situation

Another consideration for universal adoption of UWB is the local regulatory requirements for spectrum use. The WiMedia Radio is already authorized for use in major regions worldwide such as the USA, Japan, Europe and Korea; however, the allowed portions of the 3.1 - 10.6 GHz spectrum vary by region, and in some cases they may only be used if DAA or other mitigation techniques are employed.

The regulatory situation is dynamic as various regions determine their individual requirements. In order to track the latest regulatory status by region, WiMedia has created an official chart that will be updated continuously as jurisdictions adopt WiMedia UWB. To view the chart at any time, go to: http://www.wimedia.org/en/resources/worldwide_regulatory.asp.

Further information on the WiMedia Alliance and its certification program is available at www.wimedia.org.

About the WiMedia Alliance

The WiMedia Alliance is a not-for-profit open industry association that promotes and enables the rapid adoption, regulation, standardization and multi-vendor interoperability of ultra-wideband (UWB) worldwide. The basis for the industry's first UWB standards (published by Ecma International), WiMedia UWB is optimized for wireless personal-area networks delivering high-speed (480Mbps and beyond), low-power multimedia capabilities for the PC, CE, mobile and automotive market segments. Emphasizing peaceful coexistence with other wireless services, the WiMedia UWB Common Radio Platform is designed to operate with application stacks developed by the Certified Wireless USB Promoter Group, the Bluetooth-SIG and proprietary implementations. WiMedia board members include Alereon, CSR, Intel, Nokia, NXP Semiconductors, Samsung Electronics, Staccato Communications, Stonestreet One, and Wisair.

Contact Information: Contact: Susan Cain WiMedia Alliance PR (503) 538-1229