Features

Broadcom hits back at "incompatibility" slur

Broadcom, creator of an 802.11g chipset which is actually just the first of (at least) three rival pre-approval standards, is prepared to counter fears of incompatibility.

Jeff Abramowitz, Sr. Director, Wireless LAN Marketing, who was quoted in our recent story about compatibility testing, has responded firmly. He said:

"I know interoperability issues are important to your readers. [However] I think the state of the industry is misrepresented in your article."

University of New Hampshire (UNH) "has tested many technologies for several years using the same NDA policies," Abramowitz continued. "The wireless LAN industry follows the same standard networking industry protocol that has proven successful. In addition, you should be aware that the leading 802.11g companies are working closely with the Wi-Fi Alliance."

Finally, he claims, things are in fact working well: "Broadcom has extremely positive interoperability information to report if you are interested in gathering facts."

NewsWireless Net will, of course, take him up on this offer.

Guy Kewney writes:

Jeff, I take your point, and am glad to run your note here on NewsWireless Net.

However, although I apologise if I got you into trouble, I think the point has to be made: while you're quite right that: "UNH has tested many technologies for several years using the same NDA policies," and that "The wireless LAN industry follows the same standard networking industry protocol that has proven successful," - this situation is rather different.

People normally do these compatibility tests before releasing products onto the market. And this isn't my personal opinion only: I've had letters from senior members of both the Institution of Electrical Engineers here in London and the IEEE, expressing dismay at the competing rush to market before the standard is finalised.

With 11g(pre) chip sets, there were incompatibilities being discovered with various 11b Orinoco interface cards and 11g Access Points, in January. I think I would be failing my readers if I didn't warn them - there are pretty obvious implications here.

As a matter of routine, I'm now asking all interviewees who are selling any form of 11g variant on the market, for a firm commitment to an upgrade policy for customers who discover any incompatibility in the future.

So far, only Linksys has responded, and has promised "to provide free software upgrades and firmware upgrades."

This is a start; but I'm going to pressure them to go further, and agree that they have to accept that the physical layer may also be subject to variability. And that being the case, I think they have to make a statement on compatibility upgrades for people who may have to replace their hardware, too. (Of course, if they can't, we will be able to draw our own conclusions).

I'd be very pleased to ask you that question, as well: "When the final agreed standard for IEEE 802.11g is confirmed and compatibility testing between 'approved' 11g devices is complete, what assurance can Broadcom offer about support for people who may find that they have non-compliant devices from 54g standard products?"