Wireless Home Networking Hardware Planned

By the end of 2002, Microsoft will release a line of hardware and software products designed to make it easier for consumers to set up wireless home networks. The initiative could increase the number of PCs in consumers’ homes, spur sales of wireless-enabled products, such as Tablet PC and Windows Powered Smart Displays (code-named Mira), and aid Microsoft’s plans to make the PC a hub for digital entertainment in the home. However, the new products will not spur adoption of wireless home networking unless other product groups, such as Windows and MSN, understand the initiative’s strategic importance and update their products accordingly.

Likely Product: PC Adapter

Microsoft gave no details about the planned products, but only said they will support the Wi-Fi standard for wireless home networking. Among other things, this means they will use the 802.11b wireless data transfer protocol, which offers transfer speeds up to 11Mbps.

Microsoft said its main goal is to make home wireless networking easier for consumers to set up and maintain. Thus, the product line will probably include hardware that lets a Windows XP PC act as the hub for a wireless home network, and it might not include a separate wireless router like those that other companies (such as Netgear and Linksys) offer, for two reasons: