Intel in August will start shipping wireless networking products that enable workers to connect their notebooks to a LAN at speeds of up to 11M bit/sec, the company announced Monday.
The products will include a wireless LAN PC card, and an access point, which acts as a hub connecting wireless devices to a wired network, Intel said.
The products are based on the industry standard IEEE 802.11b, which supports transmission speeds of up to 11M bit/sec. That should be fast enough to support applications such as video streaming, voice over IP, and large file transfers, as well as everyday applications like e-mail.
The network has a range of about 25 meters in a typical office setting, Intel said.
Intel already offers a wireless networking system called AnyPoint for home and small office users. The AnyPoint products are based on a different standard called Home RF, which supports transmission speeds of up to 1.6M bit/sec.
The products announced Monday are aimed at business and education markets. They are the first to emerge from a co-development agreement announced in February between Intel and wireless networking specialist Symbol Technologies. Symbol offers 11M bit/sec wireless LAN products of its own, and while the two companies are partners in development, they will also compete against each other in certain markets.
Intel also faces competition from Proxim, Lucent, and No Wires Needed, which unveiled an 11M bit/sec wireless LAN system at the NetWorld+Interop 2000 trade show last month.
The Intel PRO/Wireless 2011 LAN PC Card and the Intel PRO/Wireless 2011 LAN Access Point will be priced at $199 and $999, respectively. The products are due to go on sale in the U.S., Europe and Australia on Aug. 7.
Intel also announced it will locate its wireless networking development activities in San Diego, which is home to one of the highest concentrations of engineers working in that field in the country, the company said. Intel's Wireless LAN Operation has accelerated its staffing since announcing its partnership with Symbol, and plans to employ more than 100 engineers in the San Diego area.
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