San Francisco (CA) - In just the last few years, Wi-Fi has become a standard component of notebook computers. With a range of other wireless broadband technologies emerging, Intel believes it will become critical for the computer industry to bridge existing and upcoming technologies, enabling users to seamlessly access a variety of networks through notebooks and handheld devices. At IDF this week, Intel will be demonstrating its first step in this direction, with a network protocol that offers seamless roaming capability between Wi-Fi and 3G HSDPA systems.

According to Kevin Kahn, director of Intel's communications technology lab, future silicon will be able to incorporate the functions of several CMOS radio chips into one package. While today's devices require separate chips for WLAN and WWAN radios, WLAN and WWAN will grow together in the "near" future, Kahn said. Down the road, WPAN radios for technologies such as Wireless USB, will also be integrated into future packages.

The Ultra Mobile PC, which is expected to be introduced tomorrow, is likely to become Intel's demonstration platform for the convergence of wireless technologies. According to sources, UMPCs will not only provide Wi-Fi capability, but HSDPA (and possibly EVDO) and GPS as well.

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Source : Tom's Hardware US