WLAN used for multiple simultaneous HDTV streams for the first time

Wi-Fi has come a long way since its introduction so long ago. 802.11g may be the going standard right now, but there’s a new standard knocking at the door and ready to come barging through. Metalink Ltd. has developed the WLANPlus chipset based on the forthcoming 802.11n standard, and the company recently demonstrated its use for multiple simultaneous HDTV streams. This is an industry first.

WLAN isn’t just for your home PC anywhere, and I’m sure most of you are aware of that. A connected home includes the use of Wi-Fi VoIP and several other applications, and the boob tube that all your furniture is pointed toward is no different. Metalink’s WLANPlus solution includes a baseband device and a radio frequency integrated circuit, and is designed to work with devices within a range of 100 feet.

802.11n is expected to launch some time next year, and ABI Research analyst Philip Solis expects that “Wi-Fi chipsets will be widely used by consumer electronics manufacturers for products such as HDTV displays and DVRs.”