HomeRF Working Group Ratifies Shared Wireless Access Protocol

The HomeRF Working Group has ratified the Shared Wireless Access Protocol (SWAP) specification 1.0, which provides an open platform that enables interoperable consumer devices for wireless voice and data communications in the home.

Thirteen companies have committed to build products based on SWAP. The HomeRF WG anticipates the first SWAP-based wireless devices will reach the marketplace by the end of 1999. Member companies that are actively developing SWAP-based products are: Butterfly Communications, CompaqComputer Corp., Hewlett-Packard, IBM, Intel, iReady Corp., Microsoft, Motorola, OTC Telecom, Proxim, Samsung, Symbionics, and Symbol Technologies.

Through SWAP, consumer electronics and small appliances in and around the home will contain technology that will enable them to "talk" to each other without being tethered to the existing wiring while distributing the power of the PC throughout the home.

Membership agreements can be downloaded from the HomeRF WG Web site at http://www.homerf.org.