Peter Judge

Articles by Peter Judge

Wi-Fi protocol passes

A Cisco protocol has been chosen as the basis for a standard that will control Wi-Fi access points in enterprise networks, but analysts say the final standards may be ignored by users.

Olympic visitors to get Chinese-speaking phone

Chinese services company Capinfo has made a Motorola flip-phone speak Chinese for visitors to the 2008 Beijing Olympics. The handset will carry guidebook data, including text, images and videos about historic sites, as well as directions to those sites and other useful locations like restaurants and hotels. The guide also includes a phrase book, showing phrases in English and Manadarin, which can be read by the phone using a text-to-speech converter.

UK spectrum set for massive sell-off

The U.K. radio communications industry is due for a big boost, with regulator Ofcom planning a massive consultation to sell off radio spectrum released when analogue TV is switched off. In a few years' time, if all goes well, there could be all the spectrum we need for wireless broadband, new mobile services and maybe some more unlicensed spectrum for Wi-Fi like services.

XMax sparks low power wireless revolution

A little-known start-up has demonstrated wireless broadband 1,000 times more efficient than WiMax -- and claims the technique could also make wireless LANs that will run for years on watch batteries.

Converged softphone cuts bills

A new Windows Mobile softphone could cut mobile bills for businesses. Cicero Softphone turns a Windows Mobile Pocket PC device into a dual-mode phone which can send and receive both cellular and Wi-Fi calls through the same dialler. When Wi-Fi service is available, the softphone will route calls across the Internet, otherwise it will default to using the cellular connection. Techworld has tested the system and found the basics work as described. Based on the SIP protocol, the softphone is more flexible than other offerings, said Ross Brennan, chief executive of Dublin-based Cicero Networks.

Motorola funds Trapeze for mobile Wi-Fi work

Wireless switch maker Trapeze is planning to use a big investment from Motorola Ventures, the investment arm of mobile giant Motorola, to get to grips with fixed/mobile convergence.

Mobile software maker lands in Europe

Antenna Software, a mobile software vendor that specializes in distributing back-end applications, has arrived in Europe. Antenna already has a number users at European branches of U.S. customers, many of which use Research In Motion (RIM) Blackberrys, according to the company's European vice president Bob Apollo.

Cisco goes to Motorola for cell/Wi-Fi handsets

Cisco is planning to use Motorola handsets in a converged voice system that will let users roam seamlessly between Wi-Fi networks and cellular phone services. "The dual-mode phone will be an extension of internal telephone system," said Tim Stone, IP communications marketing manager for Cisco EMEA. "You can make a phone call inside the campus without paying a GSM call charge, and the mobile phone will give you features you get from a PBX extension."

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