Intel to invest $150 million to fuel wireless technology

Intel Corporation has announced plans to invest $150 million in companies

developing Wi-Fi technology. The investment is another step in the company’s

efforts to accelerate wireless network deployment and proliferate the Wi-Fi

standard worldwide.

Wi-Fi technology, also called 802.11, is an emerging and increasingly popular

technology that provides high-speed wireless Internet access in many locations

around the world, including airports, cafes, corporate offices, universities,

factories and homes.

"Wi-Fi use is experiencing explosive growth. Estimates show that it

could grow to 30 million laptops equipped with Wi-Fi capability in three

years," says Les Vadasz, Executive VP, Intel and President Intel Capital.

"It will fundamentally change the way people use technology and enable

high-speed Internet access anytime, anywhere for business and consumer

use."

Speaking to transportation industry officials at the Wireless Airport

Association Conference and Exposition recently, Les discussed Intel Capital’s

commitment to invest in Wi-Fi technology and urged the acceleration of hot-spot

deployment at airports nationwide.

Intel has made significant investments internally and externally in a number

of wireless programs focused on establishing industry-wide, global technical

standards, developing wireless products, and seeding market development.

In addition, the company is devoting significant resources and attention to

Banias, codename for the first mobile computing technology designed from the

bottom up for the unique requirements of mobile PC users. For the first time, it

will include dual band - 802.11a and 802.11b – wireless capability as a

standard part of combined chipset and processor technology. Banias will be

available in the first half of next year.

DQCI NEWS BUREAU