Researchers at Melbourne University has achieved data transfer rates of up to 5Gbps at a radius of 10 meters. The technology is called GiFi and it could be the next big feature in portable electronics. The technology uses existing complementary metal-oxide-semiconductor (CMOS) technology resulting into a 5mm square chip. The manufacturing cost of such a technology is surprisingly low and the researchers estimate it would only cost $10 to add the chip in electronic products. The chip needs only 2 watts of electricity when it is operated and comes with a 1mm antenna. GiFi operates in 60GHz frequency, which makes GiFi the lone user of that spectrum unlike WiFi which shares the same bands as cordless phones, Bluetooth, etc. Such transfer rates (download a full-length high-def movie in seconds) has the potential of being ubiquitous and could connect appliances like TV, stereo with the home computer and handsets. The technology will be ready for mass production in 2009.

[via cellphones.ca, mobileburn]