Dell planning 'white space' networking

Dell is planning a range of white space-equipped devices

Dell has revealed plans to add wireless 'white space' connections to its future laptops and ultra-mobile systems.

The term 'white space' refers to unused frequencies in the electromagnetic spectrum.

Neeraj Srivastava, technology policy director at Dell, announced the initiative in a posting to the company's official blog.

"In the future, Dell and other companies will take advantage of the white spaces to provide new wireless communication products and services, thereby turning the white spaces into a productive resource for the American consumer," he wrote.

"At that time the white spaces will no longer be truly 'white', because they will be used by all."

Srivastava did not go into detail as to precisely how the white space connections would be implemented, but the most probable use would be wireless networking and internet access in laptops or ultra-mobile systems.

The revelation comes just days after the Federal Communications Commission officially confirmed a plan to open the unused TV frequencies as a free wireless spectrum.

The public network would allow any and all devices to access the spectrum, opening the door to a new class of notebooks and mobile devices with wireless internet connections.

Dell has yet to announce a possible release date or any specific plans for white space-equipped devices.