Qualcomm to intro mobile P2P technology

Qualcomm Incorporated will demonstrate its latest peer-to-peer wireless technology at the GSMA Mobile World Congress, Feb. 14-17 in Barcelona.

The company's peer-to-peer wireless technology, called FlashLinq, enables devices to discover each other automatically and continuously, and to communicate, peer-to-peer, at broadband speeds without the need for intermediary infrastructure.

FlashLinq advances a concept known as proximal communications, whereby users can continuously connect, disconnect and communicate directly with other mobile users at broadband speeds based on their physical proximity. 

The technology is designed to complement traditional cellular-based services and serve as a scalable platform for new types of applications. 

Ed Knapp, senior vice president, business development and engineering, Qualcomm, said: "FlashLinq's direct discovery and distributed communications allows operators to naturally extend their cellular networks. The technology can efficiently support new and enhanced services in areas such as direct local advertising, geo-social networking and machine-to-machine communications."

FlashLinq is a synchronous TDD OFDMA technology operating on dedicated licensed spectrum and is distinguished by its high discovery range (up to a kilometer), discovery capacity (thousands of nearby devices) and distributed interference management.

Thus, by enabling the simultaneous discovery and communication of thousands of proximal devices, FlashLinq can effectively create a "neighborhood-area network," where fixed and mobile peer applications can interact directly. 

Qualcomm plans to collaborate with SK Telecom to trial FlashLinq in South Korea and explore potential commercial uses.

Jong Tae Ihm, senior vice president and head, Institute of Network Technology, SK Telecom, said: "We see Qualcomm's FlashLinq technology as a key enabler to a range of new and innovative services based on proximal networking."