aim that if the lower frequencies are cut out, they can move higher in the spectrum and offer speeds well beyond the currently pro- posed 480Mbps. Only UWB can promise enough speed to stream HDTV. However, at higher frequencies, there is more absorption, SO the effective range-and the throughput at a given range-is reduced. Some suggest that that its alliance with Bluetooth may help UWB get regulatory approval. As mentioned earlier in this chapter, the Bluetooth SIG has been working with the developers of UWB to combine the strengths of Bluetooth and UWB. This alli- ance allows Bluetooth technology to extend its long-term roadmap to meet the high-speed demands of synchronizing and transferring large amounts of data as well as enabling high-quality video applications for portable devices, while UWB benefits from Bluetooth technology's manifested maturity, qualification program, brand equity, and comprehensive application layer. WPANs WiMedia In September 2002, nine leading technology companies announced the formation of the WiMedia Alliance (www.wimedia.org). Initial WiMedia Alliance activity was based on the IEEE 802.15.3a (WPAN-AHR) standard, with amendments and enhancements planned for future wireless systems such as UWB. Today, the WiMedia Alliance is a not-for-profit open industry association that promotes and enables the rapid adoption, regulation, standardization, and multivendor inter- operability of UWB worldwide. It is dedicated to collaboratively developing and administering specs from the physical layer up, enabling connectivity and interoperability for multiple industry-based protocols. Alliance board members include Alereon (www.alereon.com), Hewlett-Packard (www.hp.com), Intel (www. intel.com), Kodak (www.kodak.com), Microsoft (www.microsoft.com), Nokia (www. nokia.com), Philips (www.philips.com), Samsung Electronics (www.samsung.com), Sony (www.sony.com), STMicroelectronics (www.st.com), Staccato Communications (www.staccatocommunications.com), Texas Instruments (www.ti.com), and Wisair (www.wisair