Agere is building a chip set solution that should make low-cost, mobile phone calls over the Internet possible by integrating 802.11b WiFs (wireless networking) functionality with VoIP (voice-over-Internet Protocol) technology in a single platform. Sample quantities are to be available in September, with volume production expected in Q1-2004. Unit pricing for complete chipsets will begin at $30 in sample quantities.

Woz goes wireless. New York Times: "Mr. Wozniak described WozNet as a simple and inexpensive wireless network that uses radio signals and global positioning satellite data to keep track of a cluster of inexpensive tags within a one- or two-mile radius of each base station. WozNet, he said, will include a home-base station that has the ability to track the location of dozens or even hundreds of small wireless devices that can be attached to people, pets or property."

This could be extremely cool. So far ad hoc wireless networks for location-based applications have been targeted at industrial/commercial applications, but there are plenty of consumer opportunities. If the price of the Wheels of Zeus products are low enough, and the system is open at the software layer, I can imagine users building some amazing and unexpected services on top of it. [Werblog]

Amazon is apparently trying to do what the Library of Congress probably should do, that is make archived book content searchable.

Amazon Plan Would Allow Searching Texts of Many Books. Amazon.com is negotiating with book publishers to assemble a searchable online archive with the texts of thousands of nonfiction books. By David D. Kirkpatrick. [New York Times: Technology]

Some Bet the Broadband Belongs to Regional Bells, Not Cable. Spurred by an onslaught from cable operators and buoyed by a recent regulatory ruling, the regional phone companies are aggressively expanding their broadband services. By Bernard Simon. [New York Times: Technology]

ReplayTV's New Owners Drop Features That Riled Hollywood. The development of consumer-friendly electronics products may be a hallmark of the digital age, but that engineered friendliness is not always appreciated in Hollywood. By Eric A. Taub. [New York Times: Technology]