IBM develops fast wireless chip for content sharing

IDG News Service - Scientists at IBM have developed a chip set that they claim is capable of allowing wireless devices to operate more than 10 times faster than today's advanced Wi-Fi networks.
The chip set, using silicon germanium, is designed to operate in the 60-GHz band, an unlicensed portion of the radio spectrum that can be used to transport data-intensive formats such as HDTV (high-definition television), IBM said today.
Electronics makers have been looking for ways to exploit this portion of the radio spectrum, but previous chips designed to tap that potential were too large, expensive and difficult to integrate with other products, the company said.
The use of silicon germanium technology allows a high level of integration in the chips themselves, according to IBM. Antennas can be embedded directly into the chip set, helping to reduce system costs.
For example, a silicon germanium-based chip set, including receiver, transmitter and two antennas, would occupy the area of a U.S. dime, the company said.
The technology could be used not only in the office environment but also at home, allowing an uncompressed HDTV signal to be transmitted wirelessly from a DVD player to a plasma display mounted on the wall, according to IBM.