14 DAY TRIAL // It would seem that wireless USB, albeit still in its infancy, is becoming increasingly popular with the manufacturers of various connectivity-related devices, as quite a large number of companies have come up lately with their own versions of wireless USB kits. And the latest manufacturer to join this wireless mania is D-Link, who has just announced its Ultra-Wideband (UWB) Wireless USB Kit, an adapter and hub setup that will allow users to connect various devices to their PC from a distance of up to 10 meters (30 feet).
Thus, the DUB-9240 Wireless USB Kit is formed out of two major components, an USB hub with 4 ports and an USB adapter that plugs into the computer's USB port. The system employs UWB radio technology to deliver fast wireless communication between the computer and USB peripheral devices and can wirelessly connect said peripherals up to a 30-foot (10-meter) range from the user's computer.
The wireless USB kit from D-Link works on the 3.4GHz to 4.5GHz wireless frequency range, thus avoiding interference with other wireless devices such as Wi-Fi networks, mobile phones, and cordless home phones. Moreover, the kit provides quite a high level of versatility, as a single adapter supports up to three wireless USB hubs (which means that up to 12 devices can be connected wirelessly to a single USB port on the host computer).
D-Link is not exactly the first to launch such a device, since Belkin, Gefen and Icron (just to name a few companies) have already announced the development of USB hubs. Nevertheless, D-Link is one of the first manufacturers to receive the Certified Wireless USB from the USB-IF (USB Implements Forum), and, quite obviously, the company's representatives are very proud of their latest achievement. "The high data rate of the Ultra-Wideband wireless technology will enable consumers to transfer audio, video, and large data files from USB peripherals to their PCs more efficiently," said AJ Wang, chief technical officer of D-Link. "We're proud to be among the first to receive Certified Wireless USB status and be able to offer a solution that is fully compatible with upcoming Certified Wireless USB products."
The Ultra-Wideband (UWB) Wireless USB Kit will hit the shelves later this year (most likely in Q4) and will retail for around $340 ($220 for the hub and $120 for the adapter). Once again, price is quite a problem here, as there are relatively few consumers ready to fork out such an amount just to enjoy the lack of wires. Nevertheless, since the first steps in the right direction have already been made, this technology will most likely become very popular as soon as the manufacturers carry out some significant price cuts.
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