The race for the 802.11n wireless standard heated up late last week when Motorola agreed to merge its proposal with that of the World Wide Spectrum Efficiency (WWiSE) consortium. That leaves only the WWiSE and rival TGn (Task Group n) Sync vying for the right to define 802.11n, the next-generation WLAN technology expected to achieve speeds of 100Mbits/sec. The Institute of the Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) will vote on the two plans on March 14, and if either proposal wins 75% of the ballot, it will be named the draft standard.

When the IEEE last met back in January, TGn Sync received about 55% of the vote, WWiSE about 35% and Motorola--at that time still campaigning for its own standard--about 10%. Assuming the same 10% of the vote will follow Motorola as it joins the WWiSE, that still leaves TGn at 55% to WWiSE's 45%, both well shy of the 75% milestone. This could take a while--but it doesn't have to.

After all, there's not a vast difference between the two 802.11n proposals. Both use multiple-in, multiple-out (MIMO) architecture; the critical distinction is that while TGn Sync is proposing a mandatory channel width of 40MHz, requiring a minimum of two antennas, WWiSE wants a 20MHz mandatory width, with four antennas. The WWiSE argues its proposal will make 11n more backwards-compatible and regulation-friendly worldwide because 40MHz channels are not currently permitted in Japan and in parts of Europe; TGn Sync advocates counter that their proposal, although more complex, will better address the future needs of consumer electronics and mobile device manufacturers.

Both sides have previously expressed their willingness to compromise in the name of the common good, so it's a good bet that an 802.11n standard will be finalized sooner rather than later. The last thing anyone wants is a reprise of the IIEE's ultrawideband debacle--it seems like the UWB standard debate has been ongoing since Eisenhower was in office, and there's still no resolution in sight even though the standard's window of commercial opportunity continues to grow narrower. The IEEE may not settle on an 802.11n standard this month, but it's imperative that all parties walk away with a clear sense of the give-and-take necessary to guarantee a resolution the next time the group meets. Neither side wants to lose the 802.11n race, of course, but consider the alternatives--the longer a standards debate lingers on, the more even the winner stands to lose.

E-mail me at jankeny@primediabusiness.com.