 |
August 4 - August 11,2002 |
Microsoft prepares Wi-Fi devices
Question of compatibility with existing platforms
By Alessandro Cancian
Originally Published: 2002-07-21
 |
|
Belkin network card for PC
|
As in any field, so too in technology there are visionaries and followers.
Following a trend set by many other manufacturers of peripherals and networking devices, from next fall Microsoft will enter the fertile business of Wi-Fi devices (802.11b). Others, such as Apple Computer, have been aggressively selling similar products for years; not only has the whole Apple line has been offering wireless ready connections for years, but the Cupertino, Calif. company makes cards and bases for wireless connections under its logo.
Despite the lack of details from the Redmond giant, some U.S. spokesmen declared that the production of these devices will be entrusted to the same division that today makes keyboards and tailed and tailless mice.
This move, which will be officially announced in a few months, will further push the software colossus onto the hardware marketplace, a sector that is seen by Microsoft as still lacking wireless home networking products sufficiently affordable and easy to install and configure. The Redmond company intends to rectify the situation and try to promote, through hardware, new software and services conceived by Microsoft.
Some people are reminded of what happened years ago with modems: Microsoft invented the "winmodem" standard, which on the one hand cut the cost of those peripherals, but on the other entailed chronic incompatibility with anything not labelled "Windows".
Microsoft remarked that its choice fell on the wireless standard 802.11b because it is widely spread, in both corporate and public environments, and already supported in Windows XP. However, the Redmond people revealed that they intend to test other technologies, more recent and faster: it is not too difficult to imagine that these will probably include the other two IEEE standards, 802.11a and the imminent 802.11g.
Dominic Ainscough, an analyst with research firm The Yankee Group, said that Microsoft is keeping up with the evolving nature of the PC.
"The PC is becoming a media centre, and getting into home networking helps to build around and further extend the uses of the PC," Ainscough said. "They are helping to create a platform that goes beyond the office and extends into the rest of the home." About 35 percent of PC owners are interested in home networking, Ainscough said.
Page 1/...Page 2
|
| Home / Back to Top |
|
|
 |
|
|
</ td>
