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Qualcomm completed its acquisition of Wilocity on July 1, 2014, bringing 60 GHz WiGig technology into its wireless portfolio. The goal was to pair WiGig’s short-range, multi-gigabit capacity with conventional 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz Wi-Fi—not replace those bands. The deal showed Qualcomm’s ambition to shape the WiGig ecosystem, but the available evidence does not establish that it achieved lasting market dominance.
What Qualcomm acquired
Wilocity developed wireless chipsets based on IEEE 802.11ad, the standard marketed as WiGig. Qualcomm described Wilocity as a leader in 60 GHz wireless chipsets when it announced the completed acquisition. Neither Qualcomm’s announcement nor the cited trade coverage disclosed the purchase price.
The acquisition followed a long collaboration rather than a sudden entry into the technology: Qualcomm Atheros had invested in Wilocity since 2008, and the companies had worked together on tri-band computing solutions since 2011, according to Qualcomm’s July 2014 announcement. In 2013, they announced a tri-band reference design combining 802.11ac and 802.11ad on one module.
Why 60 GHz WiGig mattered
WiGig was designed for very high data rates across short, in-room distances. Qualcomm’s strategy was to use 60 GHz for high-throughput tasks nearby, while retaining 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz Wi-Fi for broader coverage and ordinary network access. Qualcomm characterized 802.11ac as gigabit-class and 802.11ad as multi-gigabit; these were technology positioning claims, not a guarantee of real-world speed in every environment.
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#1 Best Overall
- NOTE: The WLD15 Wireless Dock will not connect to systems equipped with the previous generation Dell Wireless 1601 WiGig WLAN device.
- Power up to two external displays, keyboards, mouse, audio and other peripherals. Supports VGA, HDMI, and mDP for up to two displays Contains five USB ports (two in front, three in back) with data transfer rate up to 4.6Ghz
- COMPATIBLE w/ ultrabooks + 2in1's w/ 5th gen. Intel Core vPro enabled with Intel TriBand(17265 802.11ad WLAN module) + equipped with an Intel WiGig antenna. E.g. Latitude E7250/7250, E7450, E5250/5250, E5450/5450, E5550/5550 + 13 2in1 (7350)
- As of Mar 2018, Wireless Dock (WLD15) compatible systems include: Latitude 12 5280, 5285, 5289, 5270, 7280 Latitude 13 7370, 7380, 7389, Latitude 14 5470, 5480, 5488, 7470, 7480 Latitude 15 3510, 5250, 5450, 5570, 5580, 7250
- More detailled information can be found at the Dell help pages sln298953 and sln297279
| Band or technology | Role in Qualcomm’s tri-band concept | Typical intended use |
|---|---|---|
| 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi | Broader coverage | General network access |
| 5 GHz Wi-Fi / 802.11ac | Gigabit-class connectivity and broader coverage than 60 GHz | General access and high-rate connections |
| 60 GHz WiGig / 802.11ad | Multi-gigabit capacity over short, in-room distances | Docking, displays, synchronization and demanding media transfers |
That split explains why Qualcomm emphasized tri-band designs: a device could keep its familiar Wi-Fi connections while adding a faster local link for compatible nearby equipment. The 2013 module announcement described connections to 60 GHz docks, displays and storage while retaining 2.4/5 GHz coverage.
What users could do with a 60 GHz connection
Qualcomm promoted WiGig for tasks that benefit from moving large amounts of data over a short wireless hop. Its announced examples included 4K video streaming, peer-to-peer content sharing, wireless docking, display connections, storage access and backing up media libraries. A dock or display would need compatible WiGig hardware at both ends; a regular Wi-Fi device could not use 802.11ad merely because it supported 2.4 or 5 GHz.
Rank #2
- 19.5V 3.34A 65W AC / DC Adapter Compatible with Dell Latitude D5000 WiGig Wireless Docking Station 19.5VDC Power Supply Cord Cable PS Charger Mains PSU
- Manufactured with high quality material and built-in protection of over current, over voltage, short circuits . COMPACT DESIGN and LOW CONSUMPTION makes it ideal for taking around and using at home.High-quality materials and tested by the manufacturer to ensure safety and durability.
- Clean the charging port of the power adapter regularly. Because the plug is prone to fouling after long-term use. If it is not cleaned up in time, it will cause poor contact of the plug and even cause the adapter to fail to work.
- Choose Correct Voltage: Please choose correct voltage before plug it to your device. Small household appliances usually don't have circuit protection, if with the wrong voltage, may damage your device. It is important to choose the right voltage before powering your device. We recommend to use less than 80% of the full load.
- Note: Prevent falling from heights during use. Do not throw, knock, or shake the charger. High and low temperatures can shorten the life of electronic equipment, damage chargers, and damage circuit boards. Please use indoors.Please don’t run it overload. Otherwise, it will be damaged soon.
One named early implementation in Qualcomm’s technical material was the Dell D5000 WiGig Docking Station. It illustrates the intended category—a compatible computer connecting wirelessly to desk peripherals—but should be treated as historical hardware, not an assurance of current availability or support.
What the Wilocity acquisition meant for Snapdragon
Alongside the acquisition announcement, Qualcomm introduced a Snapdragon 810 tri-band reference design. Qualcomm called Snapdragon 810 the first mobile platform designed to support WiGig. That wording refers to the platform’s design capability; it does not mean every Snapdragon 810 phone shipped with 60 GHz Wi-Fi enabled. A finished device also required compatible radio hardware, antenna design and manufacturer implementation.
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Rank #3
- J-ZMQER AC DC Adapter Compatible with Dell WLD15 61GRY The Wireless WiGig Tri Band Docking Station Power Supply Cord Cable PS Charger Mains PSU
- Input Voltage: 100V-240V 50/60Hz
- 【SAFETY】: With the international quality certification authority, our products are in compliance with top industry standards, and include numerous safety mechanisms, including protection against short circuiting, overvoltage, overcurrent, and internal overheating.
- 【Kindly Note】:Please make sure that you choose the right device before purchasing.
- Choosing J-ZMQER products to get convenience and just enjoy the high-speed charging, ensuring you a ideal daily life!
Qualcomm framed the move within its expectation of a 1,000-fold increase in mobile traffic and its broader vision for network densification and offload. In that context, WiGig offered a local high-capacity link for media and device-to-device transfers, while conventional Wi-Fi remained useful beyond the room-scale 60 GHz zone.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Acquisition or partnership?
It was both, in sequence: Qualcomm Atheros invested in Wilocity and collaborated with it for years, then Qualcomm completed the acquisition in July 2014. Trade coverage at the time quoted Wilocity CEO and co-founder Tal Tamir describing the deal as a call for the industry to prepare for 60 GHz Wi-Fi. The partnership history helps explain how Qualcomm could announce a tri-band product direction alongside the takeover rather than starting from scratch.
Rank #4
- This Certified Refurbished product is tested and certified to look and work like new. The refurbishing process includes functionality testing, basic cleaning, inspection, and repackaging. The product ships with all relevant accessories, a minimum 90-day warranty, and may arrive in a generic box. Only select sellers who maintain a high performance bar may offer Certified Refurbished products on Amazon.com
- NOTE: The WLD15 Wireless Dock will not connect to systems equipped with the previous generation Dell Wireless 1601 WiGig WLAN device.
- Power up to two external displays, keyboards, mouse, audio and other peripherals. Supports VGA, HDMI, and mDP for up to two displays Contains five USB ports (two in front, three in back) with data transfer rate up to 4.6Ghz
- COMPATIBLE w/ ultrabooks + 2in1's w/ 5th gen. Intel Core vPro enabled with Intel TriBand(17265 802.11ad WLAN module) + equipped with an Intel WiGig antenna. E.g. Latitude E7250/7250, E7450, E5250/5250, E5450/5450, E5550/5550 + 13 2in1 (7350)
- As of Mar 2018, Wireless Dock (WLD15) compatible systems include: Latitude 12 5280, 5285, 5289, 5270, 7280 Latitude 13 7370, 7380, 7389, Latitude 14 5470, 5480, 5488, 7470, 7480 Latitude 15 3510, 5250, 5450, 5570, 5580, 7250
Timeline
- 2008: Qualcomm Atheros began investing in Wilocity, according to Qualcomm’s later account.
- 2011: The companies began collaborating on tri-band computing solutions.
- January 2013: Qualcomm Atheros and Wilocity announced a tri-band reference design combining 802.11ac and 802.11ad on one module.
- July 1, 2014: Qualcomm announced completion of the Wilocity acquisition and a Snapdragon 810 tri-band reference design.
The 2013 announcement is available from Qualcomm Atheros and Wilocity; contemporary reporting on the acquisition appeared in EE Times.
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