Intel Offers Wireless for the Palm and Home Office

By
iApplianceWeb
(06/27/01, 12:12:34 PM EDT)

At the TECHXNY conference, Intel Corporation released the latest in its arsenal of wireless devices: a high-speed, wireless LAN module for the Palm m500 series handheld devices and a wireless gateway base station for small and home offices.

The Wireless LAN Module was developed by Xircom, an Intel company, for the Palm m500 series handheld devices. The module snaps onto the back of the handheld device and utilizes plug-and-play software for quick installation. Providing Palm m500 series users with high-speed, wireless access to the Internet, e-mail, or data stored on the network, the new module can also establish wireless peer-to-peer connections with other WLAN devices.

The Palm module is based on Cisco Systems' WLAN technology offering 802.11b connectivity at data rates of 1, 2, 5.5, and 11 Mbps. For data security, the module supports 0, 40, or 128-bit WEP (Wired-Equivalent Privacy) data-encryption and password authentication to assure that security is equal to that of existing wired networks.

The module is powered by a lithium-ion battery, rechargeable via the Palm cradle, which will allow for up to two hours of continuous transmission.

As for a larger network, the Intel Wireless Gateway combines an access point, router, and firewall into a single device. It is optimized for home offices, branch offices, or small businesses sharing an Internet connection among several desktop PCs, mobile PCs, or handheld devices.

The Intel Wireless Gateway is designed with Web-based software for easy installation, and can be set up within minutes of removing it from the box. Based on the IEEE 802.11b specification, the Intel Wireless Gateway is WiFi certified interoperable with other certified wireless LAN products and supports a network of up to 32 computers. Additionally, 128-bit encryption and an embedded firewall help protect against network intrusions.

The Xircom Wireless LAN Module for the Palm m500 series handheld devices will be available in July for the suggested price of $299.

The Intel Wireless Gateway will be available in August for a manufacturer's suggested retail price of $299.