WiMedia Endorses MBOA Specs

ANAHEIM, Calif. -- The Multiband OFDM Alliance (MBOA), proposer of ultrawideband (UWB) PHY and MAC technical specifications, said today that the WiMedia Alliance's official endorsement of MBOA proposals makes MBOA technology the global cornerstone for the emerging markets of wireless USB, wireless 1394 and wireless Internet Protocol (IP).

The MBOA also announced it has made significant progress toward building complete industry support of its UWB specifications and that its membership now exceeds 120 companies including many of the most influential players in personal computing, consumer electronics, semiconductors and mobile communications.

“WiMedia’s endorsement of the MBOA PHY and MAC specifications is a key milestone toward the realization of a multi-protocol UWB ecosystem,” said Glyn Roberts, President of the WiMedia Alliance. “In the UWB space, we are now enjoying a rarely seen level of collaboration among cross-industry players, including the end-product manufacturers. Consumers will be the ultimate beneficiaries of this focused and broadly supported effort.”

The WiMedia Alliance will implement a certification and interoperability program for use by all upper layer protocols that will combine the MBOA’s UWB radio specification along with its convergence layer. Having recently entered into a collaboration agreement with the 1394 Trade Association on the heels of a February endorsement by the newly formed Wireless USB Promoters Group, the WiMedia Alliance is now setting its sights on a set of specifications for a convergence platform and IP layer.

"The PHY, along with the redesigned MAC and all of the upper layers for Wireless USB and 1394, comprise a complete, future-proof stack that will initially enable UWB applications such as cable replacement in home and business environments," explained Alan Varghese, Senior Director, Wireless, ABI Research and author of a new ABI UWB industry report. “ABI Research projects that shipments of UWB-enabled devices could reach 315 million in 2009. UWB will turn out to be the disruptive technology that enables wireless convergence and ubiquitous connectivity across the CE, desktop and mobile spaces.”

The MultiBand OFDM Alliance is building industry consensus and a complete ultrawideband wireless ecosystem. It currently has more than 120 member companies representing personal computing, consumer electronics, and mobile communications. MBOA members comprise global leaders in consumer electronics including Hewlett Packard, Mitsubishi, Olympus, Panasonic, Philips, Samsung, Sharp, Sony, and Toshiba. Membership also includes the world’s leading semiconductor companies including Infineon, Intel, NEC Electronics, Philips, Renesas Technology, Samsung, STMicroelectronics, Texas Instruments and Toshiba, as well as leading UWB start-ups, which have cumulatively raised more than $100 million in venture capital investments in recent months. Silicon samples are expected from multiple suppliers by the end of 2004, with highly integrated, all-CMOS solutions expected in 2005.

“The MBOA has proven to be an extremely effective and efficient industry organization. These specifications are the result of dozens of dedicated companies expending thousands of engineering hours, countless meetings and conference calls, exhaustive interference testing, and a tremendous dedication of resources on all three MBOA specifications (PHY, MAC, and PHY-MAC Interface),” said Roberto Aiello of the MBOA Steering Committee and CEO of Staccato Communications.

MultiBand OFDM Alliance (MBOA)