Microsoft Releases Wi-Fi Product Line

Microsoft

Announced at the DemoMobile trade show, held here, Microsoft executives said ease-of-use features will differentiate its products from the mass of other Wi-Fi hardware currently available. Wi-Fi access points and adapters will include a set-up Wizard and special network utilities to help users easily view the status of the network, troubleshoot problems and download software updates, the company said. Wi-Fi is also known as the 802.11b standard.

The base station is priced at $150 with USB and PC Card adapters priced at $80 each. A line of 10/100 Ethernet products will also be offered.

Microsoft initially revealed its intent to release a line of Wi-Fi products in July. At the time, a Microsoft spokeswoman told CRN that the company planned to market the line to VARs in addition to retail.

A late entrant to the Wi-Fi space, Microsoft has demonstrated an interest in wireless networking since at least 1999 when it proposed plug-and-play standards to simplify home networking. Microsoft joined with 3Com to announce a line of PCI and USB networking cards and a wireless networking line based on the HomePNA standard but the standard never gained much acceptance.