Qualcomm Introduces StreamBoost Technology To Improve Home Networks

Qualcomm Atheros today introduced StreamBoost technology for Wi-Fi routers and gateways. By intelligently managing a home’s broadband connection, Qualcomm StreamBoost gives each device and each application the bandwidth it needs to ensure the best possible experiences in the connected home. Alienware and D-Link are already backing StreamBoost technology and will be showing off StreamBoost routers based on Qualcomm VIVE 802.11ac technology for Gigabit-class Wi-Fi at CES 2013 next week.

Currently, the average home connects up to seven devices to the Internet, and this number is expected to grow considerably in the next five years. Due to limited bandwidth, users are already experiencing network congestion: streaming movies freeze, gaming sessions lag, and online surfing slows. While the new 802.11ac standard was designed to address increasingly crowded networks, StreamBoost technology combined with 802.11ac takes networking to the next level. While Qualcomm VIVE 802.11ac provides up to 1.3 Gbps PHY rate of Wi-Fi capacity, Qualcomm StreamBoost provides a superior connected experience to users of all devices on a home network by managing and shaping traffic, and giving each connected device and application the priority and bandwidth required for optimal performance. This means that StreamBoost goes beyond existing Quality of Service (QoS) technology available in most recent home routers.

Qualcomm StreamBoost also incorporates an opt-in, cloud-based service that continually increases the intelligence of the router, allowing new applications and devices to be identified and optimally managed as they are added to a network.

StreamBoost’s interface makes understanding and using routers more intuitive than ever before. For the first time, users can view all computers, tablets, phones and other connected devices on the home’s network—as well as the applications they are using, and the real-time bandwidth usage of each application and device—on one easy-to-use StreamBoost interface. The UI looks very simple to use from the three screenshots that Qualcomm sent over and we like that they have images of each device type to help users know what devices they are changing the priority of. Pretty cool technology and we are curious if current Qualcomm 802.11ac based routers get ‘StreamBoost’ with a firmware update or if there is new hardware that goes along with this? We will let you know what Qualcomm says the answer is as soon as we get it!

1/4/13 Update at 6:30pm CT: Qualcomm just responded to the question with the following statement: “StreamBoost will be a standard feature of a particular router. There is no way to buy it separately or upgrade an existing router.” – Qualcomm Public Relations