Disqus
After further snooping around iPhone OS 3.0′s code, support for a chip with low-power 802.11n Wi-Fi was found, leading folks to believe it will be in an upcoming Apple device. 3.0 has already yielded a few nods to upcoming devices, but this is the first we’re hearing of any particular new features – now it’s just a matter of pinning the tail on the donkey. 802.11n Wi-Fi offers a significant performance boost (74 Mbit/s versus 54 Mbit/s on 802.11g), and more importantly, compatibility with networks supporting Macbooks at the same speed. From my talks with the Wi-Fi Alliance, I’ve been told we wouldn’t see n-class Wi-Fi in smartphones until late 2009 or early 2010, so that might set a baseline expectation for when we might see another iPhone sequel with such a feature.
The Broadcom chip in question also supports FM transmission, which means some car dock manufacturers will likely see a cut into their business sometime soon. It’s a cool feature to have included, and will likely catch the eye of end users sooner than a faster specification Wi-Fi.
[via ApplInsider]
About The Author
Simon Sage
Simon Sage’s education largely surrounded writing, technology and online community, leading him to begin his blogging career at www.BlackBerryCool.com and to quickly discover a vibrant and active community surrounding BlackBerry and mobile technology. In exploring RIM’s platform, he has learned what enterprises are looking for in mobility as well as what makes the innocuous BlackBerry so appealing to them. Recently Simon’s been covering RIM’s gradual move into an already-crowded consumer market, and the impact of burgeoning challengers, such as the iPhone, as well as long-time leaders, like Nokia, on BlackBerry’s advancement. With plenty of content under his belt, Simon will be branching off a bit to see what other smartphone manufacturers are working on while still using BlackBerry as a barometer. At IntoMobile, you can count on his posts being even-handed, well-informed and thought-out.
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Peter
