Net.Worker news briefs

New services from T-Mobile; new firewall from Intego.

NetGear last week announced wireless carrier T-Mobile will begin bundling its 802.11b wireless PC Cards (MA401) as part of T-Mobile’s HotSpotSM service. Customers will buy the NetGear cards at T-Mobile retail stores ($80), and upon installation, enter T-Mobile as the network name, and sign on to activate service. Pricing plans range from pay-as-you-go and prepaid models to traditional monthly subscriptions costing $30 per month and $50 per month.

Long known for its Macintosh security products, Intego recently announced NetBarrier 2003, consumer desktop security software for Windows PCs. NetBarrier includes a firewall; antivandal features that block ping attacks, port scans and other intrusion attempts; data, ad banner and surf filters for privacy protection; and application filters for blocking instant messaging. Other features include detailed logging and alerts, traffic and network monitoring and automatic online updates. NetBarrier is available via download or in retail stores for $50.

In a move that’s expected to speed time to market for CableHome 1.0 residential gateways and broadband routers, Jungo Software recently announced OpenRG 2.1, a new CableHome 1.0-compliant version of its software platform. Hardware vendors will build Jungo’s OpenRG 2.1 into their devices, which service providers will offer to their customers. Once in place, CableHome 1.0 devices will let providers offer, deliver and manage myriad applications over customers’ broadband connections.

In the emerging connected home, wireless technologies will dominate, and Wi-Fi (802.11b) will lead the pack, says a new report from In-stat-MDR. “Wireless Cribs: Living Large with a Wireless Home Network” predicts worldwide Wi-Fi shipments will reach 33 million by 2006, up from 6 million today. But Wi-Fi’s lack of multimedia support (including quality of service) gives ultrawideband technology an opening, as well as new technologies such as Zigbee, designed for home automation of lighting and security, and Spike, a technology built for video game controllers. Mesh peer-to-peer technology also might be used to extend the range of wireless LANs.