Intel Corp. unveiled its line of 'AnyPoint Wireless II' home-networking
products Wednesday, opting, as expected, for the '802.11b' protocol.
Intel's first version of the product used the slower 'HomeRF 1.0' platform.
The 802.11b method transfers data at speeds as high as 11 megabits per second --
enough to transport some forms of streaming video and audio.
The company's latest AnyPoint family includes a connection manager, which
enables users to switch between different 802.11b networks; a network PC card;
and a gateway, which serves as a wireless-access point, Internet router and
firewall.
Intel said the new line will carry a suggested retail price of $129 for the
PC card and $149 for the universal-serial-bus model. Pricing for the company's
gateway gear -- which is currently available to businesses and which will be
marketed to consumers in October -- will be revealed later, Intel said.
Intel's new AnyPoint products will likely be part of a home-networking trial
agreement Intel signed with Comcast Corp. in June. In addition to gateways and
wireless-network adapters, that pilot will also test the mettle of host-based
cable-modems, which will likely be priced in the neighborhood of $50 per
unit.
