* Verizon winds up EV-DO Rev A in Windy City
Verizon has launched its next-gen wireless broadband network in the Chicago area. The upgraded service, based on CDMA 1x Evolution-Data Optimized (EV-DO) Revision A, should produce average download speeds of 450 kbps to 800 kbps, with the upstream at 300 kbps to 400 kbps, the company said.
* Stratos nets RFID patent
Stratos International said it has obtained a U.S. patent for RFID (Radio Frequency Identification) technology for fiber optic components.
That patent (No. 7,165,728) describes a new technology that utilizes RFID for on-device storage of performance test information for fiber optic connectors and components. The patent, the company added, describes the integration of an RFID reader/writer into fiber optic test gear that, in turn, enables the upload of measured test information to a transponder chip that is embedded in (or attached to) the connector.
* Broadcom drops Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, FM on one chip
Broadcom Corp. has combined three radio technologies – Wi-Fi, Bluetooth and FM receiver – into a single low-power chip. Integration frequently results in lower prices, but Broadcom said the key benefits of this chip will be to allow mobile device manufacturers to buy room (either for other electronics or for minimizing the overall size of their products) while staying within a low power budget. The new chip will provide the combination of Wi-Fi, Bluetooth and FM, Broadcom said, without a prohibitive impact on product cost, size or battery life. The new BCM4325 is now sampling to early access customers.
* Tektronix beefs up IP video network monitoring
Tektronix has beefed up its IP network test equipment with new IP video monitoring capabilities. The company’s MTM400 MPEG Transport Stream Monitor can now provide simultaneous monitoring of key performance indicators (KPIs) for up to 500 MPEG transport streams carried within a Gigabit Ethernet link to help assure QoS for services such IPTV. The monitoring includes MPEG transport stream errors, IP packet errors, and IP timing. Also new is automatic channel changing capability to sequentially poll multiple streams, which allows up to 200 IP sessions to be monitored in depth.
