A new technology from Qualcomm, Inc., uses licensed spectrum to enable wireless devices to discover each other automatically and continuously, taking broadband peer-to-peer communications to a new level. Most P2P technologies use unlicensed bands of WiFi to enable connectivity. The FlashLinq technology will be demonstrated at the GSMA (News - Alert) Mobile World Congress in Barcelona next week.

The FlashLinq technology uses proximal communications to enable mobile users to continuously connect, disconnect and communicate with other wireless users at broadband speeds, based on actual physical proximity. No intermediary infrastructure is required. FlashLinq complements traditional cellular services and will serve as a scalable platform for new P2P applications. The technology is part of Qualcomm's (News - Alert) research and development into new connectivity models.

"By expanding the operator model of managed services to the frontier of proximal communications, Qualcomm continues to demonstrate its leadership in wireless technology and innovation" said Ed Knapp, senior vice president of business development and engineering for Qualcomm. "FlashLinq's direct discovery and distributed communications allows operators to naturally extend their cellular networks. The technology can efficiently support new and enhanced services in areas such as direct local advertising, geo-social networking and machine-to-machine communications."

FlashLinq uses synchronous TDD Orthogonal Frequency-Division Multiplexing Access (OFDMA) technology operating on dedicated licensed spectrum to enable devices to recognize and communicate with each other. OFDMA offers a high discovery range of up to one kilometer as well as discovery capacity of up to thousands of nearby devices, in addition to distributed interference management. This can enable a "neighborhood-area network" in which fixed and mobile peer applications may directly interact.

Qualcomm already has plans to explore new applications and potential commercial uses, and the company will collaborate with SK Telecom (News - Alert) to trial FlashLinq in South Korea.

"Throughout its 27-year history, SK Telecom has always embraced cutting-edge technologies because we are committed to giving our customers the most advanced capabilities and user experiences," said Dr. Jong Tae Ihm, senior vice president for SK Telecom and head of the Institute of Network Technology. "We see Qualcomm's FlashLinq technology as a key enabler to a range of new and innovative services based on proximal networking."