Ultrafast, ultrashort, ultrawide: some equipment is starting to appear using ultrawideband (UWB) technology, a method of using extremely short and broad pulses of information that could entirely change the way in which data is transmitted. UWB's potential is enormous, because it is non-interferring (hopefully) with virtually all current data uses because of the short duration of the information pulses. UWB requires large swaths of bandwidth to work best, and the FCC's initial approval only allowed small swaths and low power. Still, even with those constraints, you can transmit 100 Mbps over 30 feet. A neat trick, and one that should pave the way to more extensive uses. Yes, UWB could replace Wi-Fi, but the lifecycle of technology suppressed by regulation (and possibly that's wise) means that it will be at least two or three years before we see UWB devices out of this narrow, Bluetooth-like niche. [80211b News]
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