Sep, 2001 : Intel Introduces Advanced Wireless Network Technologies

📅 September 12, 2001 - Intel Corporation (intel.com) has announced severalproducts designed to help accelerate the deployment of wireless local areanetworking solutions for organizations of all sizes. The new products arebased on the increasingly popular 802.11 wireless specification.

Intel introduced the Intel PRO/Wireless 5000 LAN family of products, whichinclude a network access point (or base station) and adapters for notebookand desktop PCs. The devices are based on the 802.11a specification andoffer data rates that are five times faster than previous wireless LANproducts (transferring up to 54 million bits of information per second). Inaddition, Intel introduced utility software to enable easier configurationand management of wireless networks and unveiled enhancements to Intel'sexisting wireless LAN products, the broadest line of IEEE 802.11b-basedproducts in the industry.
"Intel's 802.11a products will deliver more 'bits per buck' by enabling upto five times more bandwidth while working alongside existing 802.11bnetworks without interference," said Greg Lang, vice president and generalmanager of Intel's Platform Networking Group. "Intel co-developed theEthernet specification and helped enable the Ethernet, Fast Ethernet andGigabit Ethernet market segments. The experience and expertise that helpedmake us the leader in wired network connections will also spark the wirelessevolution from 11Mbps to 54Mbps."
The primary difference between the 802.11a and 802.11b specifications isspeed. 802.11a products transmit and receive data at speeds up to 54 Mbps,five times faster than 802.11b products, which operate up to 11 Mbps. Also,because 802.11a products operate in the 5.2 GHz radio frequency band,interference is eliminated with wireless technologies operating in the 2.4GHz radio frequency band, such as Bluetooth products, HomeRF products,802.11b products, some cordless phones, and microwave ovens.
At 54 Mbps, the Intel PRO/Wireless 5000 LAN products will provide sufficientperformance for the simultaneous use of many bandwidth intensiveapplications such as video and audio conferencing, data mining and largefile transfers. In addition, 802.11a access points are able to support up toeight channels, allowing eight access points in the same area to combinebandwidth and provide a shared 432 Mbps of bandwidth.
For organizations that have already deployed 802.11b wireless networks, oranticipate maintaining a network supporting both wireless LAN technologies,Intel will offer an optional, dual-mode expansion kit enabling access pointsto service both 802.11a and 802.11b networks.
Designed for small and medium enterprises, the new family will ship withInstallation Wizard software for easy setup and includes the IntelPRO/Wireless 5000 LAN Access Point, the Intel PRO/Wireless 5000 LAN CardBusAdapter for notebook PCs, the Intel PRO/Wireless 5000 LAN PCI Adapter fordesktop PCs and the Intel PRO/Wireless 5000 LAN 3A Mini PCI Adapter forembedded solutions.
Intel has also extended the Intel PROSet software, which already ships withIntel's wired Ethernet connections, to support the Intel PRO/Wireless LANfamily of products. The Intel PROSet software is a single utility enablingthe configuration and management of both wired and wireless Ethernetconnections. The software includes the Intel PRO/Wireless Adapter Switchingsoftware and advanced profile, power and network management tools to helpnetwork administrators reduce training costs and simplify deployments. TheAdapter Switching software, developed by Intel Labs, enables mobile users toeasily switch between wired and wireless network connections withoutreconfiguring the PC. The software automatically reconfigures the system toaccommodate the connection type and will also automatically detect andadjust the connection, without requiring a reboot, when roaming betweenwireless networks on different subnets.
The new software provides switching and roaming capabilities for PCs runningMicrosoft Windows ME, Windows 98, Windows 98SE and Windows 2000.
Also, Intel announced an enhanced line of wireless LAN products based on theIEEE 802.11b specification. In addition to improving overall performance ofthe existing Intel PRO/Wireless 2011 LAN PC Card and Intel PRO/Wireless 2011LAN Access Point, Intel expanded the line to include Universal Serial Busand PCI Adapter versions. The USB adapter is the industry's first wirelessLAN product to receive certification from the USB Forum, Microsoft's WindowsHardware Quality Lab and the Wireless Ethernet Compatibility Alliance,helping to ensure ease-of-installation.
Intel's 802.11a-based products will begin shipping in volume in November.The suggested list prices for the Intel PRO/Wireless 5000 LAN CardBusAdapter, the Intel PRO/Wireless 5000 LAN Access Point and the IntelPRO/Wireless 5000 LAN PCI Adapter are $179, $449, and $229 respectively.