Does anyone here know more about XMAX?
Posted Feb 2nd 2006 1:02PM by Paul Miller Filed under: Wireless It's been a while since we've heard anything out of xG Technology, creator of the xMax wireless standard, but it seems like they're plowing ahead with their "we don't need no stinkin' WiMax" plan for wireless technology. In their latest demo they transmitted a 3.67Mbps signal 18 miles using only 35 milliwatts of power, which sticks to their plan of keeping the power level low enough in transmissions to allow them to send over occupied frequencies. The FCC just approved the transmitter, so xG seems well on their way to providing that wireless broadband everybody's talking about these days, hopefully in the second quarter of this year. Just to show off, they also used an xMax device to transmit data 100 feet using 300 nanowatts of power, which compares to 802.11 standards which use three million times more power -- give us some of that sweet loving!
Quote: In this respect, xMax is particularly important for telecom firms that rely on wireline facilities. The higher capacity signals that xMax produces allows for much higher quality of service (QoS) levels than do current network standards. In fact, xMax is so robust that signal capacity improvements to cable networks enable the delivery of over
1,000 channels of enhanced services. In the DSL space, xMax delivers improved data-rates while increasing the reach of DSL up to an estimated 72,000 ft. from the central office. As such, xMax provides a cost- efficient avenue for voice, video, and data services into enterprise and consumer markets
AMSTERDAM, Feb 2 (Reuters) - U.S.-based company xG Technology, which has invented a new way to achieve wireless broadband communications, said on Thursday it had appointed the London office of Credit Suisse (CSGN.VX: Quote, Profile, Research) as its strategic adviser.
"Recognizing that this opportunity is not U.S.-centric, we chose Credit Suisse because they exercise global reach for their clients," Chief Executive Rick Mooers said in a statement.
"They recognized the first-of-the-kind, industry changing aspects of XMAX (xG's technology)," he added.
Credit Suisse will help xG in discussions with big telecoms infrastructure vendors who are being approached to help the company boost its presence across the world.
"They may even be acquired by a company, potentially," a spokesman in London said.
New wireless technology can be a lucrative business. The inventors of another new wireless technology, a company called Flarion, which invented Flash OFDM, was bought for $600 million by CDMA cell phone innovators Qualcomm (QCOM.O: Quote, Profile, Research) in August 2005. An initial public offering of xG is not on the cards.
The company has come up with a radical new method to transmit large amounts of data over the air using very little power, which enables it to trespass on radio spectrum that is already being used, for instance by radio or TV channels, without disturbing these signals.
In the past week xG said its equipment was tested by a lab compliant with U.S. Federal Communications Commission standards.
Separately, an XMAX unit was used to transmit full motion video over a distance of 100 feet using 300 nanowatts of transmitted power. Had that same signal been transmitted with existing Wi-Fi wireless broadband technology, it could have required up to 3 million times more power, said Joe Bobier, who invented the XMAX Technology. The technology can be used to transmit and detect signals over distances of several kilometres.
Mooers said XMAX products would be ready for market by the end of the second quarter of 2006.