I'm still trying to sort this out, but it looks like Haier has signed on to using 802.11n in newer televisions with ultrawideband (UWB) nowhere in sight: In 2004 and then again mid-2005, putative UWB chipmaker Freescale trumpeted test with Chinese electronics and white wares' giant Haier. Last year, they were talking about how Haier would ship an LCD HDTV with UWB embedded, paired with a digital media server with the same wireless technology. These were "expected to be available" in Chinese retail markets in fourth quarter 2005 and in the US in 2006. I can't find any mention of this product having shipped, which isn't surprising given that Freescale partners have not to date shipped a single product bearing the company's UWB chips.

Meanwhile, Metalink announced today that Haier had demonstrated the use of the company's Draft 802.11n chipset in Haier HDTVs; they showed this at the SINOCES show this last week in Qingdao, China. Of course, this is an even more premature announcement than Freescale's last year, because this release doesn't mention any devices that would work with the TV sets, nor is 802.11n anywhere near done, and I doubt a consumer electronics maker would embed a draft standard.

I'm waiting for word from Freescale as to the status of the Haier deal. UWB has seemed the ideal technology for consumer electronics where you want high speeds and very little configuration over short distances. Pair UWB with 802.11n for streaming content around a home as necessary, and you have a great distribution system. UWB and 802.11n have distinct purposes, so it's particularly interesting to see Haier flirting with both or changing dance partners.

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