Belkin releases UWB wireless USB hub

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Belkin, the entertainment electronics company, is releasing its cable-Free USB hub for sale in the US.

The device will be available from mid-December 2006 at a price of $US200. The hub can accommodate up to four USB 2.0 devices and uses ultra wideband (UWB) technology to communicate at distances up to nine metres. UWB gives the hub ultra-fast speeds of up to 480 Mpbs.

The hub’s range means that a device such as an iPod dock could be plugged into a stereo in the living room and sync up with a computer in a different room. It can also make any keyboard or mouse wireless.

Belkin’s wireless USB hub is the first commercial release of Wireless USB into the US market. The company also plans to market the device in other countries subject to regulatory approval.

As most laptops do not have built-in UWB support, a USB dongle is required to use the device. The hub comes with a dongle stand to optimise reception.