As mobile subscribers bring more bandwidth-hungry devices into public venues, offices and schools, makers of Wi-Fi network equipment are helping service providers find new ways to monetize Wi-Fi.
Ruckus Wireless is giving network operators a way to partner with retailers to make location-based offers to customers. The company said its platform detects device locations in real-time within a range of five to eight meters, with 80% accuracy.
Gimbal has also partnered with Ruckus to enable beacon monetization and utilization of wireless networks. Ruckus access points can now run Gimbal’s proprietary firmware, which offers unique, rolling encrypted IDs. Developed and incubated by Qualcomm, Gimbal provides software and hardware that leverages macro-location geofences and proximity beacons.
MU-MIMO
Wi-Fi chipmakers launched new multi-user multiple input multiple output solutions this week at Computex. Broadcom, which is set to be acquired by Avago, said it will have the fastest router chipset on the market: an 8-Stream 5G Wi-Fi MU-MIMO router platform. The solution will be available for 802.11ac routers starting in the third quarter.
“The latest 802.11ac routers and access points are gaining market share worldwide,” said Phil Solis, ABI Research Director. “802.11ac router shipments grew significantly in 2014 and are expected to continue on that trajectory, with approximately 71 million consumer devices expected to ship in 2015. By designing a platform with 8-Stream capacity and MU-MIMO that’s available today, Broadcom is well-positioned to address this expanding opportunity.”
Qualcomm also unveiled a new 802.11ac Wave 2 solution this week. Its Qualcomm Atheros unit launched the next generation of MU-MIMO solutions for the home and enterprise that support 160 MHz channels and 4×4 antenna configurations.
The company said that a number of Qualcomm Atheros customers have or will soon launch products based on its current generation of MU-MIMO chips. Qualcomm partners include Aruba, NetGear, LinkSys, and Amped Wireless.
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