WiFi Caravan to Prove Extreme Mobile Connectivity

Here's a news release about a wild experiment showing wireless technology
in motion and totally untethered.  If you're interested in wireless, Linux,
security, digital music, or the off-the-shelf hardware and software that
enable the freedom of a mobile wireless network which can maintain an
uninterrupted connection even at highway speeds, then read on… 

This Friday February 21, a zany multi-car caravan will make a 14-hour
journey from Portland to San Francisco to CodeCon'03 running a full service
wireless network between vehicles, with public online participation through
specified access points. 

Broadcasting music via Icecast, playing games, chatting, downloading and
uploading files, the WiFi Caravan aims to show how a 802.11 (WiFi) wireless
network can be maintained between several high speed moving vehicles using
the existing wireless access node infrastructure, much of which has been
abandoned by defunct telecommunications companies in and around the
Portland area.

The mobile wireless network is centered around a mobile 4-way SMP Linux
cluster built in a briefcase comprising four VIA EPIA M-Series mainboards,
and each of the four caravan leader vehicles will have a VIA EPIA M-9000
based, wireless-enabled PC system that can be installed in the car or
removed for home or small office use.

With the principle focus of the destination event, CodeCon'03, being
network security, a further aim of the group will be to highlight the ease
of wireless access on the road, and the lack of security of many of these
networks. Fewer than 37% of the wireless access points we have polled are
secure," said Steven Cockayne.

For the full news release, please click here:  
http://www.via.com.tw/en/Digital%20Library/PR030218JanusWiFiCaravan.jsp

We'll be glad to arrange interviews with Steven Cockayne of the Janus
Wireless Project and Richard Brown, VP of Worldwide Marketing for VIA
Technologies, Inc.

The Janus Wireless Project is a Portland, Oregon based research group
focused on developing software to provide robust wireless services and
mobile IP connectivity to 802.11b network users. VIA is a leading innovator
and developer of PC core logic chipsets, microprocessors, and multimedia,
optical storage, communication and networking chips.

Further details, interviews, video footage and a limited number of
ride-alongs for editors can be arranged in advance by contacting:
Pat Meier-Johnson 
Pat Meier Associates PR
North American Public Relations
for VIA Technologies, Inc. 
415-389-1700.