SMC Networks this week introduced a line of wireless networking products that use the draft of the 802.11n specification being developed by the IEEE.

SMC looks at the new devices as having applications in both homes and businesses.

Many of the applications the company names as appropriate for this gear sound like home applications: gaming, VoIP, high-definition video streaming and file sharing.

Joanie Wexler has been conducting a good analysis of 802.11n in her Wireless in the Enterprise Newsletter. She points out that 802.11n, which is promising to significantly increase the bandwidth of previous wireless LAN (WLAN) technologies, could present problems for your existing wired LAN infrastructure, because you may have many more wireless devices suddenly talking to it at a much higher rate.

She also says that the current rush to 802.11n-enabled WLANs may be premature, as many companies don't have that pressing of a need for the high speeds just yet.

Network World has also conducted a review of the early "draft-n" WLAN gear. (requires registration)

SMC says 11n will be able to transfer data at up to 300Mbps. The products will use WPA2 and a firewall for security. The products also support QoS controls.

The four products are the ADSL2/2+ Barricade N Modem Router, the Barricade N Broadband Router, and the EZ Connect N PCI and CardBus adapters to connect PCs to the routers.

These first products in the draft-11n line are scheduled to ship by year-end.

Jeff Caruso is site editor at Network World.