Samsung, Microsoft and the OFDM Forum endgame
January 8th is when CES 2002 will be on - Microsoft, Samsung and Philips are making keynote speeches - the focus will be on the eHome concept and support of Microsoft's new eHome division, and related technologies.
cesweb.org
cesweb.org
Samsung and Microsoft Announce Strategic Alliance To Collaborate on Digital Home Technologies
Leading Consumer Electronics and Software Companies Join Forces To Deliver Next-Generation Home Products and Experiences
REDMOND, Wash., and SEOUL, South Korea -- Oct. 17, 2001 -- Microsoft Corp. and Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd. today announced a broad agreement to collaborate on consumer PCs and consumer electronics products for the digital home. The two companies intend to work together to develop and market a new breed of products based on Samsung hardware and Microsoft® Windows® software including support for Windows Media (TM) Technologies. The joint effort is the first strategic alliance for Microsoft's eHome Division, a new business unit formed earlier this year with the mission of developing new technologies that bring exciting yet simplified whole-home entertainment, communications and control experiences to everyday consumers.
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microsoft.com
Ericsson, Nokia, Philips Semiconductors, Samsung, Wi-LAN, and Caltrans Launch OFDM Forum
March 14, 2000
Microsoft Supports Industry Initiative to Deliver High-Speed Wireless Communications to Customers
(SAN FRANCISCO, California) - At the Broadband Wireless World Forum in San Francisco, Ericsson, Nokia, Philips Semiconductors, Samsung Electro-Mechanics, Sony, Wi-LAN and CalTrans today launched the OFDM Forum. The OFDM Forum was created to foster the harmonization of OFDM standards, promote the global harmonization of spectrum allocation, and implement a single compatible global OFDM standard for delivering cost effective devices on all wireless networks and in related industries. In addition to these industry leaders, Microsoft Corp. supports the OFDM Forum's goal of delivering a single OFDM standard that will enable high-speed wireless data communications to anyone, anytime, anywhere.
At the invitation of Wi-LAN Inc. and Philips Semiconductors, 104 representatives from 60 companies worldwide met to discuss the formation of an international market development organization on December 2, 1999. OFDM stands for Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing, and is a technology that is considered at the cornerstone of the next generation of high-speed wireless data products and services for corporate and consumer use. OFDM is at the foundation of both the IEEE 802.11 and ETSI BRAN standards, and is used in numerous multimedia applications. With this evidence of industry support, the wireless world is ready for products based on OFDM technology.
"Microsoft believes in enhancing consumer lifestyles through a transparently interconnected world of PCs, intelligent appliances and relevant software and services," said Jawad Khaki, general manager, Windows Networking and Communications, Microsoft Corp. "Standardized high-speed wireless communications goes a long way toward helping to achieve this vision, and Microsoft believes that OFDM technology will play a lead role in this world. We are pleased to be supporting a forum committed to the common goal of delivering a single global standard, enabling high-speed communications to anyone, anytime, anywhere. The OFDM Forum is a major step for the industry."
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ofdm-forum.com
Microsoft to Buy 5 Pct Stake in Korea Telecom-Paper
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The newspaper quoted the official as saying Microsoft and Korea Telecom agreed to a strategic tie-up in wired and wireless telecom businesses.
``We have no comment to make,'' a Korea Telecom spokesman said. He declined to give his name.
Korea Telecom plans to issue new shares in February of 2002 and sell them to Microsoft, the newspaper said.
Last month, Microsoft agreed with Samsung Electronics (05930.KS) to jointly develop and market consumer PCs and electronic home appliances.
dailynews.yahoo.com
OFDM Research in Korea and Samsung plans, as presented to the OFDM Forum
ofdm-forum.com
So here we are almost 2 years after the first meeting of the OFDM Forum; most of the relevant standards have been set. IEEE 802.16, .11a, .11g and all of the other QoS and security enhancements are geared for a mass market in .11a chipsets, at least at the PHY layer. Evidently different MAC layers are needed for different applications.
All of the needed players are now positioned to supply this market (a diversity of chipset suppliers) and a number of end market players to produce a large enough combined OFDM network market to drive costs way down.
So to summarize:
1) the OFDM-based standards are largely set (if not finalized)
2) there is market consensus building around .11a and its enhancements in applications ranging from WLANs, to BWANs to telematics with the promise of personal comms. mobility (as opposed to portability) when form factors are improved
3) Microsoft has chosen WLANs as the medium to achieve convergence and leverage PCs into the handheld space and the networked home
4) a large number of competitors working on standards-based product means a healthy, sustainable market for OFDM-based product.
5) Competing technologies have fallen out of the race.
Other than general weakness in capital markets, I'd say the business case has never looked better! IMHO.
Rob |
