Wireless standards battle looming

Computer users should prepare themselves for an impending standards battle between wireless interconnectivity technologies, experts warned today.

The promise of entirely wireless interconnections for PCs means that standards and technology battles are looming, reports In-Stat.

Most digital interconnects are first adopted in PCs and then by consumer electronics devices, the high-tech market research firm notes in new research.

"Like USB versus 1394, the outcome of the battle between ultra wide band [UWB] solutions will be determined by the PC platform," said In-Stat analyst Qasim Inam.

The growth of mobile PCs and other mobile consumer electronics devices will drive the transition to wireless interconnects based on UWB, according to the report.

In-Stat said that PCs hold the key in determining the winner between the WiMedia and Pulselink UWB technologies.

Legacy wired interconnects will exist on the PC platform for several generations, but usage should transition to UWB within a very short period of time.

Despite the growth of Wi-Fi in peripherals and consumer electronics, UWB sales will overtake Wi-Fi in the near future, the research predicts.

However, in the long-term Wi-Fi and UWB will continue to coexist in PCs as complementary technologies.