Intel to move Centrino to 802.11a/b next month

Intel will upgrade the WLAN component of its Centrino mobile platform to support dual-band connections next month.

Volume shipments of the Wireless Pro 802.11a/b modules will begin in July. Support for the recently ratified 802.11g standard won't happen until the end of the year, said Eric Jao, Intel Comms Group Asia Pacific marketing manager, according to a DigiTimes report. High-speed, dual-band 802.11a/g modules will follow during H1 2004.

Jao said the 802.11a/b module will be priced at $35, well above the $20 802.11b Wireless Pro cards Intel ships with current Centrino sets. Both modules are based on RF technology from Philips and a MAC/baseband chip from Texas Instruments. ®