(24 October 2007 6:00 pm)

MUMBAI: IBM and MediaTek in the US have launched a joint initiative to develop ultra fast chipsets.

These can wirelessly transmit a full-length high definition movie to and from a home PC, hand-held device, retail kiosk or television set nearly as fast as a viewer can push their remote control.

The new technology will allow consumers to rid their homes of the wires needed to connect their HD-TVs to set top boxes and allow the placement of devices anywhere that is convenient, instead of having to organize furniture and other accessories around technology.

Both companies will combine their expertise in millimeter wave (mmWave) radio technology -- the highest frequency portion of the radio spectrum where massive amounts of information can be sent quickly -- and digital chipsets to create revolutionary multimedia wireless products. The large bandwidth for data transmission available at the mmWave frequency band enables at least 100 times higher data rates than current Wi-Fi standards.

For example, a copnsumer can upload a 10 gigabyte file in five seconds with the new technology versus 10 minutes using current Wi-Fi technology.

mmWave wireless technology can be widely used at home and office for applications such as multimedia content downloads or uncompressed HDTV streaming from your DVD player. You could wirelessly download and synchronize iPod-like devices with music and videos in seconds.

IBM Research VP, science and technology Dr. T.C. Chen says, "This collaborative effort will enable consumers to wirelessly transfer large multimedia data files around their home and/or offices in seconds. This will enable a world where you can have your entertainment when you want and where you want it"

MediaTek spokesperson Mingto Yu says, "MediaTek has constantly provided its customers with the most advanced features and capabilities to enable the best communication as well as entertainment experience. This joint effort has made it possible to take advantage of millimeter wave (mmWave) radio technology"

The parties will collaborate to integrate IBM’s new mmWave radio chips, antenna, and package technology with MediaTek’s expertise in digital baseband and video processing chips as well as leverage MediaTek’s influence in the consumer electronics market.

IBM Research has been engaged in mmWave technology research and development for the last four years. In collaboration with IBM’s TJ Watson Research Center and IBM’s Tokyo Research Lab, IBM demonstrated a prototype packaged chipset as small as a dime to wirelessly transmit uncompressed HD Video in February 2006. IBM used their 0.13-micron silicon germanium BiCMOS process to manufacture the chips.