Lucent Technologies will develop a product that would
provide users with wireless internet access on trains, buses and
cars.
Lucent is working with In Motion Technology in Vancouver and Top
Global in Beijing to develop a product that links third-generation
mobile networks and Wi-Fi technologies, said Lucent spokesman
Ichiro Kawasaki.
Called Wi-Fi on the Move, the product would augment Lucent's
evolution data optimised (EV-DO) 3G wireless technology, which
provides high-speed capabilities of about 300Kbps to 500Kbps.
Kawasaki said the product would use EV-DO networks to provide
backhaul for Wi-Fi access points.
Lucent has received $525m from Verizon Wireless to deploy its
EV-DO network in major cities in the US.
"The idea behind Wi-Fi on the Move is to take advantage of the
large base of Wi-Fi devices out there and provide them with Wi-Fi
access where they might not otherwise have it, like on trains and
buses, where it might be difficult to run a DSL or cable connection
to provide the Wi-Fi access," Kawasaki said.
"So anywhere your mobile phone would work, this technology would
work as well," he added.
Linda Rosencrance writes for Computerworld