Microsoft has announced a range of wireless and fixed networking products to spur adoption of broadband within the home and small office environment. Using an 802.11b Wi-Fi chipset from Intersil, Microsoft will brand wireless base stations, USB adapters and PC cards. Prices for a two-node base station and client kit start at USD 219.95.
Microsoft has focused on providing simple and cost-effective solutions which can be installed by end users unfamiliar with wireless networking technology. It will also sell standard ethernet products for connecting to fixed networks.
“The process of setting up a wireless network has simply been too complex for the people looking to share their broadband internet connection,” said Lisa Brummel, corporate vice president for the Microsoft Home Products Division. “Our primary goal in creating these products was to help enable the scenarios that people see as important to their lives. This means giving users the freedom they need to access their information at any time and on any device.”