Released on = March 15, 2006, 3:43 am

Press Release Author = visiongain

Industry = Telecommunications

Press Release Summary = San Francisco, CA and London, UK; 13 March 2006: Ultra
Wideband (UWB) is set to revolutionise the way that devices are connected to each
other, affecting the markets for Wi-Fi, Bluetooth and even the USB on PCs. This
technology is due to start being incorporated into devices from 2006, and the number
of UWB-enabled devices will increase by more than 400% year-to-year through 2008.
These are the findings from the latest report by telecoms industry research firm
visiongain, entitled "Ultra Wideband: Market Analysis and Forecasts 2006-2010".

Press Release Body = The basic concept of UWB is to develop, transmit and receive an
extremely short duration burst of RF energy. It is a cheap, lower power solution
that will enable electronic devices in homes and offices to be connected efficiently
and without the burden of cabling. This will be especially important for connecting
multimedia devices such as digital cameras, mobile phones, PCs, HDTV monitors and
printers. As such, UWB represents a major step forward towards making the concept of
the wireless digital home a reality.

"UWB offers a promising solution to the scarcity of RF spectrum by allowing
UWB-enabled services to coexist with current radio systems with minimal or no
interference. This coexistence means that there is the advantage of avoiding
expensive spectrum licensing fees," says visiongain analyst Sherman Fridman. "The
array of potential uses for UWB in the home, particularly in a
multimedia/entertainment environment, will spur the uptake of this technology."

"Because Bluetooth technology is already available in the market and has reached the
status of a recognisable brand, a merger of Bluetooth and UWB technologies would
seem to be a win-win situation that would see wide adaptation of the benefits of
UWB. UWB with an 802.11n back-haul is another compelling proposition," adds Fridman.

The future of UWB's success is hampered with two standards being debated - MB-OFDM
and DS-UWB, and the battle looks set to be taken to the market. MB-OFDM has the
backing of Intel and Texas Instruments. Motorola and Freescale Semiconductor are
among DS-UWB supporters, as this technology is targeted primarily at multimedia and
handheld devices.

Another potential issue for the future of UWB is that current FCC restrictions mean
that UWB is only able to send and receive data over short distances, less than 30
feet. This will hamper future deployment in corporate environments.

Bluetooth has taken advantage of the UWB standards roadblock and has announced that
it will work with both competing UWB groups to develop new wireless-enabled products
under the Bluetooth brand. Bluetooth SIG's roadmap includes a way-point called
\'Seattle,\' which will feature Bluetooth's first compatibility with UWB.
Bluetooth-enhanced products will be brought to market around mid-2007.

This report analyses the scenarios that are most likely to develop and the
implications for UWB and related technologies of each scenario. In the process, it
discusses the advantages and disadvantages of UWB technology, and compares it to
related technologies, such as Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, ZigBee and others. A particular
focus of the report are the applications enabled by UWB, its timeline and roadmap,
as well as the impact it will have on the market.

ENDS

Notes for Editors
If you are interested in a more detailed overview of this report, including charts
and images, e-mail sara.peerun@visiongain.com, phone Sara on 020 8767 6711 or see
http://www.visiongainintelligence.com/reportDetail.aspx?reportId

Web Site = http://www.visiongainintelligence.com/

Contact Details = visiongain
40, Tooting High Street
London SW17 0RG

Tel +44 (0)20 8767 6711
Fax +44 (0)20 8767 5001

sara.peerun@visiongain.com