Wireless group tentatively OKs speed boost
C|Net | at | by Mike
An industry standards group has tentatively approved new technology that will speed wireless Internet connections in homes, businesses and public places. Technology companies, through an industry standards group called the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE), on Thursday tentatively approved a new standard called 802.11g that reaches data transfer rates of 54 megabits per second (mbps). The new standard is five times faster and compatible with wireless networking kits that use the popular 802.11b standard that is in use today. The 802.11b networking kits, built by the likes of Cisco Systems, 3Com, Proxim, Intel and Agere Systems, allow people to wirelessly connect their laptops together, so they can roam around the house or office and still surf the Web. The technology has become popular in the past few years, spreading to coffee shops, airports and hotels.