Updated – Qualcomm has pre-announced routers from D-Link and Alienware using its draft 802.11ac chipset.
Qualcomm said its Qualcomm Atheros division is introducing StreamBoost™ technology for Wi-Fi routers and gateways. The cat-out-of-the-bag part is:
"In conjunction with this introduction, Alienware and D-Link Systems, Inc. will be demonstrating StreamBoost routers based on Qualcomm VIVE™ 802.11ac technology for Gigabit-class Wi-Fi at International CES. StreamBoost routers will be available to consumers this spring at e-commerce and retail outlets in North America, Europe and Asia."
StreamBoost is most likely a version of Ubicom’s StreamEngine technology that Qualcomm got when it quietly acquired Ubicom back in March 2012.
Updated 1/11/13: StreamBoost is based on Bigfoot Networks technology, a company Qualcomm purchased in 2011.
Qualcomm’s announcement says its VIVE 802.11ac chipset provides link rates up to 1.3 Gbps. It also says that StreamBoost incorporates an opt-in, cloud-based service that continually increases the intelligence of the router.
We’ll be getting more details on D-Link’s new router, which is the first we’ve heard of not using Broadcom’s draft 802.11ac chipset. There will probably be other non-Broadcom-based draft 11ac routers announced at CES next week. So stay tuned for our coverage.