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September 20, 2009

How do you solve a problem like multiple radios?

Worse than Maria’s seven rambunctious children in The Sound of Music, today’s cell phones are full of radios that don’t work well together. Only one child can speak at a time but they all want to talk and they don’t know how to decide when which one of them should speak. So what do you get?

Yelling, interference, and constant fighting, and in the end nobody wins. Nothing is understood, nothing gets accomplished and everyone is frustrated.

SNRLabs, a small start-up company based in a glass and metal chalet in Richardson , Texas , may be far from the hills of Austria , but has found a unique and extremely effective way to manage these ornery children. They’ve brought in an objective family friend, Max, who is tolerated by the children and not accused of playing favorites. He gets to decide who talks when. Peace, harmony, love and satisfying conversation - just as Mother Superior would want it to be.

You can discover more of my favorite things about SNRLabs, just like Intel did. Just yodel me.

Posted by CSB at 12:59 PM |

September 19, 2009

SNRLabs Press Release

SNRLabs announces agreement to provide Advanced Connection Management Suite for Intel's next-generation handheld platforms

Technology enables seamless connectivity in wireless data and voice to achieve high-quality user experience

RICHARDSON, Texas (September 22 2009) SNRLabs, a pioneer in wireless radio convergence technologies, today announced an agreement to provide its Advanced Connection Management Suite product for Intel's next-generation handheld platform, codenamed "Moorestown". This product is optimized to work well with the Linux-based Moblin v2.1 software stack and enables a seamless connectivity solution.

The Advanced Connection Management product is part of SNRLabs' Convergence Manager Suite, a product line that smartly selects the best possible connection across multiple wireless radio devices while effectively managing precious battery life. "We found that there were significant technical issues preventing the efficient management of multiple radios in converged mobile devices that were affecting the ability to achieve a seamless and transparent user experience," said Sudipta Sen, CEO of SNRLabs.

"Our pioneering and patent-pending technology allows the device to automatically choose the best available wireless connection based on pre-selected criteria such as lowest cost, highest security, greatest bandwidth and best power management. This enables the service provider to better manage network capacity during overload times, thus avoiding the frustration of dropped calls and data interruption. The need for mobile users to manually change their radio connection disappears," continued Sen. "And when the experience is seamless, users are satisfied and rapid market adoption can happen. We're pleased and proud to be working with Intel on their next generation handheld platform."

"Moorestown" is Intel's next-generation Mobile Internet Device (MID) and Smartphone platform and is accompanied by a new Linux-based Moblin software version, Moblin v2.1. This platform is optimized to deliver high performance for a visually rich, interactive, PC-like internet experience, while consuming dramatically lower power and providing full software compatibility.

"The mobile device market segment is undergoing exciting changes as the industry is increasingly embracing the need for innovative new designs with high performance, low power, and full software compatibility that will deliver a rich, interactive, PC-like Internet experience to consumers," said Pankaj Kedia, director of global ecosystem programs in Intel's Ultra Mobility Group. "The combination of Intel's next generation Moorestown platform and SNRLabs advanced connection manager products will help make it possible for consumers to stay connected and enjoy this Internet experience irrespective of the wireless technology available."

The market for multi-radio devices, which includes smartphones, MIDs, tablets, netbooks and notebooks, is the fastest growing segment of consumer electronics today. According to IDC, the total worldwide shipments of these "converged mobile devices" will reach 1.3 billion units between now and 2012 - a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 22.2%. The need for SNRLabs' technology becomes increasingly relevant as wireless devices more often jump from one connection to another and applications in new markets such as automotive and medical require more sophisticated connectivity.

Safe Harbor Statement
Statements contained in this press release regarding statements of management's beliefs, goals and expectations may be considered forward-looking statements as that term is defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, and are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by these statements. We disclaim any intention or obligation to update any forward-looking statements as a result of developments occurring after the date of this press release.

About SNRLabs

SNRLabs is a pioneer in wireless radio convergence technologies, offering complete system-level solutions on mobile devices to quickly assess and efficiently manage multiple radios to provide seamless connectivity at longer battery life. Founded in 2006, SNRLabs is headquartered in Richardson, Texas. The company has additional operations in Taipei, Taiwan, and Bangalore, India.

More information is located on the World Wide Web at www.snrlabs.com

Posted by SSG at 11:52 PM |

September 12, 2009

What is the future wireless in my dream?

I think I need to use three angles (user interface, wireless connectivity, actual volume of the device) to describe it.

Let’s talk about user interface. Today I noticed a YouTube video from Nokia research center and I think that is the idea user interface I’d like to have. Basically, the user interface includes input and out.

In that video, it has three kinds of output (We also can call it “display”.). The first type of output is on the device. The second one is on the window glass. And the third one is on an eyeware. This video did not say too much about how to get the message on the window glass. I think it is doable by today’s technology. You only need a Bluetooth (even can use WirelessHD) and touch screen equipped transparent OLED window. About the third one - Gaze-tracking eyeware, it is also not an arabian nights. Eye Controlled Focus is already used on some Canon cameras few years ago. Those three types of output are a wonderful combination. Why? If you need privacy, you can use eyewear. If not, imagine you can use any size of glass (equipped with those technologies I mentioned before) to be your display. And your device is the last thing you can always relied on. How cool it is.                                                                                                                                        

Now let’s move to input. Again, there are two kinds of input in that video. The first type of input is on the device and the window glass. Personally, I think iPhone has the best input (multi-touch) I have ever seen and I think that is good enough. The second type of input is the wrist device. In the video, Nokia called it Haptic wrist device. I will say it is a Bluetooth enabled high accuracy accelerometer. With well selected movement patterns, it definitely can be another good and useful input type. Wii MotionPlus is a good example and lots of people used it.

Posted by PY at 11:10 PM |