Intel integrates 802.11a/b/g/n WiFi onto a single chip
Today Intel announced details of their new all-in-one wireless chip — integrating 802.11a/b/g and ready-for the yet to be ratified +100Mbps 802.11n — something that currently requires several chips. They even figured out a way to integrate formerly extraneous bits like power amplifiers. Neato, but really, why should you care? Well, using a single chip reduces the manufacturing costs and extends the battery life of our portable electronics. And since these CMOS-based chips use the same manufacturing technology as their microprocessors, Intel will be able to quickly saturate the market once production begins. Now, Intel won't be pinned down for an availability date, but there's little doubt that we'll see the new chips packaged in Centrino systems. And as consumers demand Centrino like Pentium in days of yore, Broadcom and Texas Instruments will be left wondering what the hell happened to their market share. Intel, a WiFi company…my my.
