Motorola Debuts Dual Wi-Fi Card For Hot Spots, Public Safety Nets

Motorola is tapping into the market for public safety networks as well as Wi-Fi with what it calls the first 2.4GHz/4.9GHz dual-band Wi-Fi card. The card allows emergency personnel, first responders, and municipal employees to connect to licensed public safety networks in the 4.9GHz frequency, as well as to hot spots and other networks in the 2.4Ghz unlicensed frequency.

The 4.9 GHz band was assigned to public safety use by the FCC in 2003. Government organizations, as well as private companies sponsored by government organizations such as private ambulance services, can use the band.

The WDE1000 card lets users tape into existing networks, as well as create their own ad hoc networks where no network infrastructure is in place. This could prove particularly helpful in emergency situations where network infrastructure has been knocked out.

The card extends Motorola's MOTOMESH line, designed to allow municipalities to create 4.9GHz mesh networks, and simultaneously create 2.4Ghz Wi-Fi networks. This would allow a city or town to create a Wi-Fi network for public use, and a 4.9GHz for public safety.