MIT, HP work on wireless

The Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Hewlett-Packard on Thursday opened a research center devoted to wireless technology.

HP and MIT joined forces in June 2000 to focus on developing new types of computing and communications equipment. They called the relationship invent@mit.

HP is investing about $25 million into the partnership, or about $5 million per year, according to HP spokesman Dave Berman.

Susie Wee, HP project manager for streaming media technologies, is among the HP employees and MIT researchers that will work together at the center, according to Berman.

Streaming media onto wireless devices is one of the avenues of interest for the HP and MIT researchers that will staff the Center for Wireless Networking. The researchers are also expected to focus on ways of extending the life of batteries, making wireless networks faster and even trying to make room for devices yet invented, Berman said.