10Meters News Service

August 30, 2001 – Available now for a room near you: Intel's new wireless networking products designed specifically for home and small office use.

Announced yesterday at the Intel Developer Forum, the AnyPoint Wireless II Network family features a USB model, a PC card and the Intel Wireless Gateway.

The products are based on 802.11b technology, also known as Wi-Fi, and represent a departure for Intel, which last year was one of the first companies to support and sell a competing standard called HomeRF. Intel moved into the Wi-Fi arena this spring. Other supporters include IBM, Dell, Apple Computer, Cisco Systems, Compaq and Agere Systems (the Lucent Technologies spinoff).

The Intel AnyPoint products include:

• the AnyPoint Connectivity Software Suite, which supports file and printer sharing and includes Internet security features such as Web site filtering, integrated firewall protection and Wireless Encryption Protocol (WEP) encryption.

• the AnyPoint Connection Manager that allows laptop users to switch between different 802.11b networks. Laptops equipped with the AnyPoint Connection Manager and the AnyPoint Wireless II Network PC card can access the Web from any location that offers 802.11b connectivity – the home, hotel rooms, airports or businesses.

• the Intel Wireless Gateway, which combines an access point, Internet router and firewall into a single device. The gateway features both Ethernet and 802.11b connectivity and includes 128-bit WEP encryption, an embedded firewall and AnyPoint installatoin software.

"The AnyPoint Wireless II Network products and the Wireless Gateway provide the simplest, most flexible way for non-technical consumers and small businesses to set up a wireless network and share a single Internet connection,'' said Barry Bonder, Intel's director of residential networking products.

The products are currently available at retail outlets and via the Web at www.shop-intel.com. Suggested retail prices are $129 for the PC card and $149 for the USB model. The Intel Wireless Gateway is now available for business use and will be available for consumers in October. Retail price to be announced.

A recent survey by The Yankee Group, cited by Intel, shows that half of all U.S. households with more than one PC are interested in setting up a home network. According to research by Cahners In-Stat Group, there will be 31 million homes in the United States with more than one PC by the end of 2003.

For more information, see "Proxim Downplays Intel Move, Stock Shock."