Cisco launches the Flex 7500 Series Wireless Controller, saying it allows network managers to manage a number of branch office WLANs without the need for a controller at each site-- reducing the number of controllers needed. 

The appliance handles up to 2000 access points across distributed sites, as well as local authentication and fast roaming. In the case of WAN failure, it authenticates on a local RADIUS server, keeping wireless clients connected. 

Features include layer 2 mobility, secure guest access and rogue access point Read more...

The technology allows peer-to-peer wifi connections between devices like smartphones and cameras-- without the need for wifi networks or access points.

Range and speeds are the same as existing wifi's (200m, 250Mbit/sec). The system employs the latest WPA2 security protections.

Wifi Alliance as an example tells of a user taking photos from a ship's upper deck and sending pictures to a laptop (wifi direct-enabled) on a deck below.

The first Wifi Direct certified devices include Atheros XSPAN Dual-band 802.11n PCIe Mini Card (AR928x), Broadcom Read more...

The 5GHz-band technology will be shown in a demo at CES in Las Vegas in January.

The Wireless Home Digital Interface (WHDI) consortium finalizes its WHDI 1.0 standard for streaming uncompressed 1080p video. (It's based on Amimon technology– other competing wireless technologies also offer multi-room capability but almost all use compression.)

The finalized standard would ensure interoperability among different-branded devices that license the technology and bear a WHDI logo (but watch out for interoperability of devices with pre-standard Read more...