At the CTIA in March, Flarion Technologies demonstrated how its flash-OFDM mobile broadband system is interoperable with 802.11 networks, and since then has garnered quite a following of industry vendors, the likes of Certicom, IBM, and Texas Instruments. At present fourteen companies have joined Flarion's Alliance Program, pushing for the development and deployment of the flash-OFDM technology.

Why all the interest? What the Flarion demo established, according to Tom Wheeler, president and CEO of CTIA, is that "WI-Fi and traditional wireless services are adjuncts that can exist and succeed together." This is good news for wireless carriers looking to offer WLAN services along with WAN offerings. 

With flash-OFDM, users experience an 'always on' broadband desktop experience in a fully mobile WAN, just like they do today on their corporate LAN or at home with a broadband connection, without limitations to content, security or applications, the company said. 

However, there is a catch. Flarion's equipment runs packet data over IP on the 700 MHz radio band, which is currently 'hot real estate' as far as spectrum goes. 

Even though the FCC granted Flarion permission to beta test its system, the Commission, Congress and wireless carriers continue to fight over how and when to auction off spectrum in the 700 MHz band. Television broadcasters currently occupy the spectrum, which they do not have to relinquish until 2006. 

To garner their support, Flarion had to prove to the incumbent broadcasters that its system can run simultaneously on the band even if they are there. 

But Flarion's success also depends on carrier support. The company is looking to offer the service on bands occupied by GSM carriers. eWeek reported that Flarion has at least one carrier on side, with which it is conducting initial trials. 

Some industry observers predict that if Flarion can deliver, it could eventually unwire the entire Internet. 

(Additional Information source - eWeek)

For more information: www.flarion.com