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• September 20, 2002 •
This week, at the IDG Executive Forum DEMOmobile conference, Microsoft Corp. announced the launch of Microsoft® Broadband Networking products. The Broadband Networking product line was developed to give customers the easiest and quickest way to set up a Wi-Fi (802.11b) wireless network to share their broadband Internet connections, files and printers among all the computers in their home or small office.
"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."
Several features in the new line of wireless Broadband Networking products significantly improve the experience of setting up and maintaining a wireless network. The Setup Wizard makes setup a snap by detecting the computer's Internet service provider (ISP) and modem settings and automatically configuring the Microsoft Broadband Networking Wireless Base Station and PC. Maintaining the network also is easy. The Broadband Network Utility allows the user to easily view the status of the network, troubleshoot a problem or download software updates.
To help prevent wireless eavesdropping, 128-bit Wired Equivalent Privacy (WEP) encryption is turned on by default. Network address translation (NAT) and a built-in hardware firewall help prevent attacks from the Internet. And built-in Universal Plug and Play (UPnP) support helps keeps hackers out while enabling users to play multiplayer games and conduct video and voice conversations over the Internet from any networked PC in the house.
The Microsoft Base Station also offers advanced security features through the browser-based Base Station Management Tool, such as media access control (MAC) address filtering and parental controls. This allows network-savvy users to easily set up, change and maintain their network settings.
The complete line of Microsoft Broadband Networking products, which use the Intersil PRISM WLAN solution, includes a Wireless Base Station, a Wireless USB Adapter for connecting desktop computers and a Wireless Notebook Adapter (PCMCIA card) to add notebook computers to the network. In addition to the standalone Base Station and network adapters, Microsoft also has designed two all-in-one wireless networking kits to provide customers with everything they need in one box to create a wireless network between two computers. For users who are interested in creating wired Ethernet or hybrid networks, Microsoft also is offering five Ethernet products to complement its wireless offering.
More information can be found on the Microsoft Broadband Networking Web site.
We'll plan to write a review on some of these products in the near feature.
