Microsoft, Intel elbow into wireless
eWeek | at | by Mike
Intel and Microsoft are putting their muscle behind new WLAN components, but the heavyweights' actions have others in the industry worried they will complicate standards development and limit choices. Intel, which recently began making wireless LAN radios, plans mini-PCI cards that support 802.11a and 802.11b, which the company intends to bundle with its Banias processor for notebook PCs due in the first half of next year (see related story, Page 31).
Of greatest concern to analysts and vendors is Intel's efforts to hard-wire the still-developing 802.11a standard and put WLAN technology directly on the motherboard. Such a move could lock users into an undeveloped standard as notebook OEMs adopt the integrated Intel technology.