2020 iPhones May Support New Short Range Wi-Fi Standard

[MacRumors]

Apple's next iPhone series may support a new Wi-Fi standard known as IEEE 802.11ay, according to Japanese blog Mac Otakara.

802.11ay is the follow-up of IEEE 802.11ad, quadrupling the bandwidth and adding up to 4 streams of multiple transmission/reception. The new Wi-Fi spec, which uses the 60GHz spectrum, is still in the draft phase but is expected to be finalized by the end of 2020.

The translated report is quite difficult to decipher, but the blog calls the wireless standard "ultra-short range," which suggests it could be used to communicate between iPhones (i.e. AirDrop) and perhaps other Apple devices in close proximity.

Interestingly, a 2018 report claimed that Apple has been working on an AR/VR headset that would be untethered from either a computer or a smartphone and instead connect to a "dedicated box" using the 802.11ay wireless standard. The box was said to be powered by a custom 5-nanometer Apple processor similar to the custom chips that Apple will use in future Macs.

Connecting the two rumors is pure speculation at this point, but it's interesting to conceive of different scenarios where Apple uses the new Wi-Fi standard to enable next-generation wireless AR/VR experiences.

That said, Bloomberg's Mark Gurman has claimed the company's AR roadmap will initially focus on the iPad and iPhone before any sort of headset comes to fruition.

In November, Gurman said Apple is working on "a range of augmented and virtual-reality devices" based around a new 3D sensor system, which will arrive first on a new iPad Pro slated for release in the first half of 2020, and followed by Apple's new iPhones later in the year.

Moving beyond existing devices, Apple is said to be targeting 2021 or 2022 for the release of a combination VR and AR headset focused on "gaming, watching video and virtual meetings."

Article Link: 2020 iPhones May Support New Short Range Wi-Fi Standard

 

[krazzix]

The first AR-glasses ready iPhone. Cool.

 

[BMcCoy]

I thought we were moving to a numerical system of wi-fi generations, to make it a bit easier to understand?
Wi-Fi 6 being 802.11ax and wif-fi 7 for 802.11be.
So what are "ay" and "ad"? Wi-Fi 6.1 and 6.2?

 

[Knocklaun]

I am equally confused now?!?

 

[H3LL5P4WN]

802.11ay?

The Fonz approves.

 

[urtules]

I thought we were moving to a numerical system of wi-fi generations, to make it a bit easier to understand?
Wi-Fi 6 being 802.11ax and wif-fi 7 for 802.11be.
So what are "ay" and "ad"? Wi-Fi 6.1 and 6.2?

Old habits die hard, we might never be able to simplify the naming schema. We must try.

 

[ZEEN0j]

I thought we were moving to a numerical system of wi-fi generations, to make it a bit easier to understand?
Wi-Fi 6 being 802.11ax and wif-fi 7 for 802.11be.
So what are "ay" and "ad"? Wi-Fi 6.1 and 6.2?

No no no. You got it all wrong. They realized having two names would be easier for non tech people.
Seriously though, I’m not in a market for a new router so I haven’t really kept up with the new. But honestly before I at least new what the latest one was. Now I have not a single clue.

 

[swm]

So what are "ay" and "ad"? Wi-Fi 6.1 and 6.2?

this is not wifi. it is wigig. but governed by the wifi alliance.
[automerge]1582552850[/automerge]
802.11ay is tricky stuff. the predecessor 802.11ad was around since 2012 and did not produce much market impact. it is quite power hungry, and the range is _very_ short in omni scenarios. it was used mostly for vr headsets and some android phones and laptops supported it. the signal is very well attenuated by your hand, it can completely block it, even in directional scenarios. it requires line of sight so the use is very limited. ay and ad show their strength in outdoor scenarios for FWA where it can be beamformed and go over several hundred meters, but not on a mobile device which is on the move. doppler frequency shift is noticeable even at walking speeds.

 

[ksec]

Either Apple support the mmWave 5G which they would support these 60Ghz 802.11ay as well. Or it isn't coming to iPhone in 2020.

802.11ay will be essential to a port-less iPhone ( Or iPhone with only Smart Connector ) . Transferring at speed faster than even USB 3.1

 

[orev]

I thought we were moving to a numerical system of wi-fi generations, to make it a bit easier to understand?
Wi-Fi 6 being 802.11ax and wif-fi 7 for 802.11be.
So what are "ay" and "ad"? Wi-Fi 6.1 and 6.2?

The numbering system is a marketing thing aimed at consumers to help keep things easier/more obvious when shopping for products. The internal engineering names of various standards are always going to be more specific/obtuse to regular people.

 

[benshive]

I thought we were moving to a numerical system of wi-fi generations, to make it a bit easier to understand?
Wi-Fi 6 being 802.11ax and wif-fi 7 for 802.11be.
So what are "ay" and "ad"? Wi-Fi 6.1 and 6.2?

And instead of USB 3.0, USB 3.1, and USB 3.2 we have USB 3.2 Gen 1, USB 3.2 Gen 2, and USB 3.2 Gen2x2. I guess people in tech aren't good at naming things

 

[M-Life]

in past experience, Apple is not usually the first to adopt a new technology, especially when that technology won't be released until after the new iPhone comes out.

 

[Infinite Vortex]

the signal is very well attenuated by your hand, it can completely block it, even in directional scenarios.

So basically there may well be a redux of the "you're holding it wrong" problem of the iPhone 4.

 

[BMcCoy]

The numbering system is a marketing thing aimed at consumers to help keep things easier/more obvious when shopping for products. The internal engineering names of various standards are always going to be more specific/obtuse to regular people.

Well yes, I get that - but "internal engineering names" don't have to be kept complex, it's a choice. They could fully switch to a simpler system. Bluetooth managed it. Sort of!

And it's not really just "internal" naming - this article shows the tricky obscure naming exists in that middle place too, between the engineers and the users.. the enthusiasts, moderately knowledgable, etc. Us!

 

[MandiMac]

Could be a nice thing for the rumored Apple Glasses. But what could be its features - a discussion is going on in Let's assume Apple Glasses are real. AR ideas?

 

[B.A.T]

I don't care what they put in this year's iPhone. I'll still be using my 8+ and still be loving it.

 

[cmaier]

I thought we were moving to a numerical system of wi-fi generations, to make it a bit easier to understand?
Wi-Fi 6 being 802.11ax and wif-fi 7 for 802.11be.
So what are "ay" and "ad"? Wi-Fi 6.1 and 6.2?

The numerical stuff is marketing.
The standards have these sequential letter codes, each of which is a cumulative addition to all the previous 802.11 standards. Some have major effect, and some are minor optional additions.

 

[jaytv111]

I thought we were moving to a numerical system of wi-fi generations, to make it a bit easier to understand?
Wi-Fi 6 being 802.11ax and wif-fi 7 for 802.11be.
So what are "ay" and "ad"? Wi-Fi 6.1 and 6.2?

As others have said, this isn't exactly wifi, it's much shorter range. They didn't really address 802.11ad when they announced wifi 6. They just said 802.11ax = wifi 6 and left it at that, while not doing anything with 802.11ad and its successor 802.11ay.

Funny enough, there's now wifi 6E, E for enhancement, which is entirely different and not related to 802.11ad and ay. Not too different from regular wifi 6, it adds another frequency at 6 Ghz, but still it's annoying to have two separate 6 standards now (we do have to wait for the FCC to clear 6 Ghz use for wifi).

Wi-Fi Alliance Announces Wi-Fi 6E Moniker for 802.11ax in the 6 GHz Spectrum

www.anandtech.com

 

[Blackstick]

Ayyyyy!

 

[falkon-engine]

Since Wifi 6 is 802.11ax, and Wifi 7 is 802.11be, what will they refer to 802.11ay as? Wifi 6 Gen 2x2+++? (USB3.x + Intel 14 nm naming schemes).

 

[swm]

Either Apple support the mmWave 5G which they would support these 60Ghz 802.11ay as well. Or it isn't coming to iPhone in 2020.

5GNR in the mmWave spectrum has no common elements with 802.11ad/ay. not even at the PHY layer. it requires a different baseband and a different RF stage. IMO 5G mmWave is useless as it suffers from the same things as the mmWave in the v-band.

 

[jaytv111]

Since Wifi 6 is 802.11ax, and Wifi 7 is 802.11be, what will they refer to 802.11ay as? Wifi 6 Gen 2x2+++? (USB3.x + Intel 14 nm naming schemes).

802.11ay and its predecessor 802.11ad won't be incorporated into the new naming scheme.

Downloading the newest Wi-Fi protocols: 802.11ax and 802.11ay explained

Wi-Fi protocols are more confusing than ever, so here’s the TL;DR.

arstechnica.com

If all this isn't bad enough, the Wi-Fi Alliance has not-so-helpfully decided to replace some—not all!—of the 802.11 designations in consumer marketing with a supposedly simpler scheme. 802.11ac, which most of us are using now, becomes "Wi-Fi 5" under this new scheme. 802.11ax will be marketed as "Wi-Fi 6." This new numeric designator conveniently ignores some protocols, unfortunately: neither 802.11ad nor 802.11ay will get "Wi-Fi Numbers" at all.

 

[alphaod]

So what's going to happen with my Wi-Gig devices? Super heavy interference?

 

[RecentlyConverted]

802.11ay?

The Fonz approves.

That made me chuckle, very good.

 

[44267547]

Article quote:

“802.11ay is the follow-up of IEEE 802.11ad, quadrupling the bandwidth and adding up to 4 streams of multiple transmission/reception.“

So quadrupling the bandwidth would Be the only real tangible benefit I could see here. My question would be, How are 4 channel streams associated with equalizing the reception to where it creates the potential for a shorter wavelength? There has to be more to this.