Vendors hype new WirelessHD standard

A group of electronics manufacturers has formed a new wireless interface aimed at transmitting high definition video.

The WirelessHD Interest Group includes Sony, Toshiba, NEC and Samsung.

"WirelessHD will provide a high-speed wireless digital interface that will enable customers to simply connect, play, transmit and port their HD content in a secure manner," said WirelessHD Interest Group chairman John Marshall.

The group estimates that WirelessHD will be available for manufacturers in the spring of 2007.

WirelessHD will use the unlicensed 60GHz frequency band and the group estimates the reach of the signal to be as much as 10 metres, although this could be extended with 'smart antenna' devices.

The format joins Ultra Wideband (UWB) as a possible interface for high-bandwidth wireless connections. The UWB standard is used by some providers to connect consumer electronics devices.

But the two formats may not necessarily compete, according to Kurt Scherf, vice president and principal analyst at research firm Parks Associates.

Scherf pointed out that UWB in its current state would not be suitable for streaming HD video content.

"I'm sceptical that UWB is going to be competing. UWB's main thrust is going to be the IT side of the space more than consumer electronics," said Scherf.

Although the analyst sees a market for WirelessHD, he does not see the technology being adopted as quickly as the WirelessHD Interest Group hopes.

"There are cable solutions out there already that solve the rat's nest of wires," said Scherf. "I think we are years away from seeing the mass rollout of wireless networking in the consumer electronics space."