Wireless USB 1.1 brings near-field pairing, more
updated 02:30 pm EDT, Wed September 29, 2010
Wireless USB 1.1 spec goes live
The USB IF promised an easier time with wireless support today by posting and detailing the Wireless USB 1.1 standard. It now supports near-field communication (NFC) and proximity detection as a way of setting up peripherals. Owners only need to bring a device next to its host, such as a computer or a hub, to associate the two.
The technology should also be faster and support higher frequency ranges of 6GHz and up. Battery-equipped devices should use less power. Wireless USB 1.1's availability doesn't have a fixed date and will depend both on companies producing components for computers and for the devices themselves.
Most current Wireless USB hardware is limited to specialized hubs for attaching wireless devices, such as Belkin's Wireless USB hub, and a handful of computers that can add Wireless USB as an extra.
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Joined: Nov 2005
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Existing Wireless USB hardware is mostly limited by the atrocious third-party software that is required for it's operation. Windows and MacOS still do not include built-in support for Wireless USB so you are stuck using the garbage the OEM ships with the device. In addition to the Belkin device, IOGear made a device, but other than that none exist. It's a pretty sad situation.
The pairing procedure for the IOGear device is pretty crazy too. You need to directly connect the remote hub into the machine it is intended to connect wirelessly to, while powered by the AC adapter. Pairing also includes a pretty poorly designed and extensive procedure in the garbage software as well. Even after all of this, the device *constantly* needs reconnecting. IOGear claims I need the latest firmware, but it already has it. It's pretty miserable.