TechnoConcepts, Inc. (www.technoconcepts.com) was issued Patent No. 6,748,025 from the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. This patent, which covers 19 different claims, is for the conversion of RF signals directly into high-speed digital data streams. Those streams are then sorted and demodulated with digital signal processing. TechnoConcepts has developed a technology that enables competing wireless standards to understand each other. The key is to incorporate a transceiver—based on a computer chip with the company's True Software Radio technology—with the antennae of wireless devices.

EMS Wireless, a division of EMS Technologies, Inc. (www.ems-t.com), appointed Soren Pihlman as Vice President and Deputy General Manager of EMS Wireless. Pihlman most recently served as President and COO of Digital Transmission Systems, Inc., where he held full P&L, strategic, and operating responsibility. In his new position at EMS, Pihlman will lead the division's operations and engineering efforts. EMS Wireless also promoted Dave McKay, previously Vice President of Engineering, to the newly created role of Chief Technical Officer - Wireless. McKay will concentrate on future-oriented technology and the vision for EMS Wireless.

Airespace, Inc. (www.airespace.com) announced that the Airespace 4000 WLAN Switch and 4100 WLAN Appliance completed independent lab certification for the Federal Information Processing Standard (FIPS) 140-2 level 2 standard. The Airespace Wireless LAN (WLAN) system was the first intelligent, next-generation WLAN system to complete FIPS 140-2 level 2 certification.

According to the Multiband OFDM Alliance (www.multibandofdm.org), the WiMedia Alliance's official endorsement of its proposals makes MBOA technology the global cornerstone for wireless USB, wireless 1394, and wireless Internet Protocol (IP). The WiMedia Alliance (www.wimedia.org) will implement a certification and interoperability program for use by all upper-layer protocols. It will combine the MBOA's UWB radio specification with its convergence layer. The MBOA has made significant progress toward building industry support for its UWB specifications. Its membership now exceeds 120 companies.

REMEC, Inc. (www.remec.com) has reorganized its operational structure to ensure direct line of sight and accountability from product development through customer deliverables. The new organization is comprised of two wholly owned subsidiaries: REMEC Wireless Systems, Inc. and REMEC Defense & Space, Inc. REMEC Defense & Space will remain unchanged. REMEC Wireless Systems, which was formerly the commercial division of REMEC, will change from a functionally based organization to a product-line-focused organization.

The ZigBee Alliance (www.zigbee.org) announced 27 new members, which brings its total membership to more than 70 companies. The new members include ADCUS, Inc.; Airbee Wireless; American Power Conversion; Atalum, SA; Brunelco Electronic Engineering BV; CCL/ITRI; Daintree Networks, Inc.; Frontline Test Equipment, Inc.; Galeha; Grundfos Management; Insta Elektro GmbH; Institute for Information Industry; Jennic Limited; Korwin; LG Electronics, Inc.; NEC Engineering Ltd.; OTSL, Inc.; Polaris Networks; Renesas Technology Corp.; Rincon Research Corp.; Sensicast Systems, Inc.; Siemens Building Automation; Silicon Wave, Inc.; ST Microelectronics; Telecom Italia; TUV Rheinland; and VIA Networking Technologies, Inc.

SanDisk Corp. (www.sandisk.com) appointed Judy Bruner as Executive Vice President of Administration and CFO. Bruner will be responsible for heading finance, investor relations, legal, human resources, business development, and IT functions. She has been a SanDisk Director and Chairman of the board's Audit Committee since 2002. Since 1999, Bruner served as Senior VP and CFO of Palm, Inc.

IPextreme (www.ip-extreme.com) will begin delivering proprietary IP titles based on a new methodology for developing and packaging IP products. IPextreme's IP development process is based on Extreme Programming—a deliberate and disciplined approach to design with a focus on creating the best-quality source code. This approach emphasizes simplicity and customer involvement in the design process. At the same time, it employs techniques like pair programming and continuous integration to eliminate bugs as early as possible in development. In a separate announcement, Infineon Technologies announced that it will join IPextreme's Nexus partner program.

MathStar (www.mathstar.com) raised $9.6 million, bringing its total financing to date to $52.3 million. The funding will be used to expand MathStar's sales and marketing efforts. It also will be used for application development and general working capital as the company introduces its field-programmable object arrays.

Mobile Satellite Ventures (www.msvlp.com) appointed Alexander H. Good as the company's new Vice Chairman and CEO. Good, a wireless and telecom veteran, will spearhead MSV's efforts to build and operate the company's next-generation business. That business will combine the best of satellite and terrestrial networks. Gary Parsons, formerly MSV's Chairman and CEO, will continue on as Chairman. In a separate announcement, the company revealed that it closed on additional optional funding rounds with its original investor group, which includes affiliates of Telcom Ventures and Columbia Capital. The group provided $21.3 million in new capital.

VelociTel, Inc. (www.velocitel.net) appointed Peter Lendrum as Chief Architect. Lendrum is the former CEO of Peter A. Lendrum Associates, Inc.—an architectural, engineering, and planning firm that he founded in 1968.

Blue Pearl Software, Inc. (www.bluepearlsoftware.com) was launched to automate the process of RTL Closure for integrated-circuit and electronic system design. Blue Pearl's software will enable functional design, timing, and design-for-test closure at the register transfer level. Its analysis and verification software identifies functional issues in RTL design. It also vows to reduce the number of design iterations that are required to meet timing and test requirements. To do so, it plans to resolve critical timing-path and DFT issues.