Universal wireless tech to gain HDMI

WiGig, the 60GHz wireless networking tech capable of delivering gigabit speeds, is to gain HDMI compatibility.

The organisation behind the technology, the WiGig Alliance, last night announced the finalisation of the first release of its WiGig Bus Extension (WBE), a so-called "protocol adaption layer" that allows traffic from other technologies, such as USB, to piggyback on the WiGig wireless network.

The as-yet-incomplete WiGig Serial Extension (WSE) works alongside this to allow WiGig to replace peripheral cables.

The WiGig Display Extension (WDE) will deliver the same functionality for screen-connection standards. The Alliance announced a tie-in with Vesa to support DisplayPort through the WDE, and now it has licensed HDMI to add that telly-friendly tech too.

All this and a faster replacement for 802.11n Wi-Fi too. The Wi-Fi Alliance has already agreed to manage WiGig interoperability testing. WiGig has been designed to fall back into an 802.11n mode when the 60GHz link becomes unsustainable because access point and client are too far apart.

HDMI functionality is expected to be added to the WiGig spec during the second half of 2011, allowing the WDE to be made available to licensees.

WSE is likewise expected to be done and dusted before the year is out.

The WiGig Alliance also announced an updated version of its initital WiGig spec, release 1.1, yesterday. ®