(Updated to correct reference to Artimi’s total funding)
SiBeam, a start-up based in Sunnyvale, Calif. company, has emerged from secrecy with a chip it says transfers uncompressed high-definition video to an HDTV from a set-top box or other source.
Transferring high-definition video wirelessly is something several companies are offering — all of them in various stages of development and each using different technology. This could permanently remove wires from your home. Few of the companies offer the transfer uncompressed like SiBeam though.
There’s an explanation of its technology here.
However, it’s not clear at all who is going to buy this technology, and whether consumers really care about uncompressed versus compressed (SiBeam says uncompressed is more secure and may appeal to content producers worried about pirating).
It uses 60GHz technology using standard CMOS.
Artimi, a company with U.S. headquarters in Santa Clara, has raised $26.5more than $50 million in funding to develop its chip using ultrawideband technology, focused on portable devices. UltrawideBand can transmit up to a whopping 500 megabits of data a second — roughly 10 times today’s Wi-Fi speeds. Another player, Tzero has raised more than $38 million. Then there are WiFi-focused companies like Palo Alto’s Airgo Networks which say their technology can do just as well. Airgo was snapped up by Qualcomm after raising $130 million. There’s also Ruckus Wireless, which has raised $30 million (see coverage).
SiBeam itself has raised $38 million from Foundation, NEA and US Venture Partners.
“The big question is do consumers want any of this stuff, (and) how much extra is this going to cost them,” says Brian O’Rourke, analyst at In-Stat, to the Mercury News
3 Comments
-
Ian Bell said:
We saw a lot of companies at CES earlier this year promoting similiar technologies. http://www.amimon.com/ was one of them. This is definately where the future is heading, now a winner just needs to emerge so a standard can be set.
-
RK said:
Hi Matt,
SiBeam is interesting company, But WirelessHD standard has been around for 2 years and Sibeam is only chip company in it. Other guys are systems people such as Sony etc.. This standard will have challange for adoption unless there are other chip companies who are willing to support. Also this tech will be limited to PAN networks of 10 meters or lower and Line of sight.
-
Ken Feldman said:
Matt,
There has been a lot of talk about wireless HD this and wireless HD that, and doing a little quick calculation from your article, over $200M sunk into chips to make this work. To date, all of it is either vaporware or can go maybe 10 feet.
There is only ONE company that can actually deliver wireless HD and do it right now, plus 7.2 surround sound audio. And over 200 feet range, through walls.
Check out http://www.neosonik.com
3 Trackbacks
4:56 pm
VentureBeat » TZero, ultrawideband chip co., searching for more capital amid competition said:
[...] of data a second — roughly 10 times today’s Wi-Fi speeds. However, a range of other players, from SiBeam to Artimi, are offering similar technologies. No single standard appears to have emerged, however. Then there are WiFi-focused companies like [...]
1:47 pm
VentureBeat » Amimon’s chip: First to serve HD video across whole home said:
[...] says it can transmit at 4 gigabits per seconds, using the 60GHz technology using standard (super fast). However, it doesn’t extend 150 feet. It reaches 10 meters, and says it has limited its range [...]
7:23 pm
SiBEAM delivers high-definition wireless adapters this year, raises $40M » VentureBeat said:
[...] The financing was led by New Enterprise Associates. The other firms backing up SiBEAM are Foundation Capital and U.S. Venture Partners.SiBEAM, of Sunnyvale, Calif., is developing a technology called WirelessHD. The technology helps you move rich, high-definition data like video wirelessly from one gadget to another, such as from your portable digital video camera to you TV. We’ve covered the company earlier. [...]