A faster Wi-Fi format aims to eliminate most wires | Technology | Los Angeles Times

Ready to cut the cord? The next generation of Wi-Fi technology could make most wires obsolete.

The Wi-Fi Alliance, an organization that certifies wireless industry standards, announced the specification for a new format for transmitting data over the air at speeds up to 10 times faster than today's top-of-the-line hotspots.

The nonprofit group is billing the technology as a replacement for most wired connections between electronics.

In cooperation with the Wireless Gigabit Alliance, the Wi-Fi Alliance will lobby wireless networking manufacturers, like Linksys and D-Link, to build the new WiGig format into upcoming products over the next couple years.

The organizations envision WiGig as a complement to existing Wi-Fi bands rather than as a replacement. That's because WiGig's coverage range is significantly smaller. One access point probably couldn't blanket a home, said Kelly Davis-Felner, the marketing director for the Wi-Fi Alliance.

"Where you'll really see the benefit is streaming across the room or between separate rooms from stored media libraries," Davis-Felner said.

At a speed of 7 gigabits per second, WiGig can easily handle the transfer of high-def video. That positions it as a replacement for wired HDMI connections or optical audio cables.

So imagine launching a video on Hulu, and with the click of a button, zipping that stream from a laptop on the couch to the living room's big-screen television. Or unpacking an Xbox, plugging it into the wall and voila, the