Intel and Ozmo are to demonstrate wireless short-range technology that enables Centrino-based laptops to connect to any peripherals in range. The companies are showing off the Wi-Fi Personal Area Network (PAN) technology at the Computex trade show in Taipei.

According to Intel, the PAN technology will go on sale next year and it will be seen as a threat to Bluetooth, which has a range of 30 feet, but runs on a separate radio which Wi-Fi does not need. Wi-Fi PAN allows a laptop user, already connected to a Wi-Fi access point, to run up as many as eight wireless peripheral devices over Wi-Fi.

The Computex demonstration uses Ozmo's integrated circuit, which acts as a transceiver for Wi-Fi and can be placed inside wireless peripherals.Belkin has also signed up to building peripherals based on the new technology.

Ozmo claims its technology slashes battery usage to levels of a Bluetooth device. X

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