News

xG Technology responds to publicity about "precursor" companies, and promises clarification

by Tim Ayers | posted on 11 November 2005


Following the NewsWireless analysis of the still-secret xG and xMax wireless technology, the company has responded, explaining several points as follows:

Dear Mr Kewney,

We’ve seen your posting about xMax and xG Technology on newswireless.com and certainly appreciate your understandable skepticism.  A healthy skepticism should accompany any new and disruptive technology—particularly one that appears to overturn established concepts.  We feel, however, that in fairness to you and your readers, we should address the questions you raised.

·  Yes, the transceiver was in a standard, off-the-shelf, metal unit that was purchased from an electronic supply store and it was, indeed, black.  So it is not incorrect to say that it is a “black box,” but without the mystery that may be associated with that term.  The unit contained a circuit board.

·   You point out that the xG Technology will not explain how xMax works.  Of course not.  The only value that the company has is intellectual property.  The engineers have worked on developing xMax for six and a half years in the stealth mode because the threat of having the technology stolen or opened to patent challenges before the technology was fully developed.  While we don’t make all the details of how it works to the public, we provide details to appropriate companies with guarantees prohibiting disclosures.  In fact, we have agreements with dozens of companies who are part of our technology preview program, including some of the largest firms in the IT and telecom industries.  In addition, we have voluminous mathematical and engineering studies that are made available to potential partner companies.

·  Joe Bobier developed and deployed communications systems in the U.S. and Europe that were equal to, but far in advance of what we now call WiFi.  Some of these systems are still in operation today and we are happy to provide details if you wish.

·   You used the word “fraud” in regard to the background of Rick Mooers.  Obviously we consider this an extremely serious matter and are frankly surprised that you would do so in a public posting without checking the facts.  The unfounded charges against the Mooers Branton merchant bank were immediately thrown out of court with the judge correctly observing that it was a business dispute that should be mediated, which it was.  All parties agreed to the mediation.

·  You raised the issue of patents.  As you might expect after more than six years of research and engineering, there is actually a portfolio of patents.  Some of these have been published, some are anticipated to be published in the very near future, others are in the pipeline at the Patent and Trademark Office, and still others are being prepared for submission.  Again, however, proprietary information is shared with appropriate companies exploring partnerships.  We doubt that the “proof” you are seeking will be provided by the next patent or the patent following that.  The proof is that the system works.  We will continue to provide third party validation, as we have in the past, without divulging to the public the intellectual property that is the sole value of the company.  We’re confident you can understand this reasoning.

·  You also questioned why there were only European reporters covering the demonstration.  Actually, that’s not true.  There were U.S. observers, although we had numerous cancellations because of the hurricane that caused so much disruption in Florida.  Individual demonstrations now are being scheduled with reporters and industry analysts.

·  To address Peter Judge and Rupert Goodwins’ questions about the equipment on the tower, yesterday Donny Jackson, senior editor of Mobile Radio Technology magazine, did go up the 850 feet to the installation on the tower to observe and photograph the omni-directional antenna and the broadcast power levels.  Along with another independent observer—representing a large European firm that is a major investor in xG Technology—at the receiving end of the transmission, Jackson was able to confirm that the signal reached broadband levels at 18 miles using only 35 milliwatts.

Ultimately there is a question of logic in regard to the legitimacy of xMax.  The company is not seeking investors or “corporate customers,” as you suggested.  Either by itself or in partnership with other companies the success of the firm will rest solely on whether “it works” (to use Goodwins’ phrase).  It will be impossible to take it to market if it doesn’t work.

Thank goodness it does.


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Tim Ayers is communications representative for xG Technology.