http://www.thinksecret.com/features/airportupdates.html [a rumors site, so take with a grain of salt --Raines]
>Apple opting for 802.11g support in next AirPort update >By Nick dePlume, Publisher and Editor in Chief > >June 17, 2002 - According to sources, Apple Computer Inc. has made the >internal decision to adopt the IEEE 802.11g wireless networking standard >in future versions of its AirPort technology. > >What will be absent from AirPort updates is 802.11a, a new protocol which >many wireless networking manufacturers are using to supplement 802.11b, >the current standard on which AirPort and many other products are based. > >The reasoning behind this is largely a technical one. Reportedly, the most >important factor is that 802.11g is backwards compatible with 802.11b, >since it is in the same 2.4 GHz frequency as AirPort's networking. >802.11a, on the other hand, is in the 5 GHz range. > >Additionally, Apple has been able to maintain ranges of 175 feet with >802.11g, still keeping top speeds. While the speeds of A and G are the >same, 802.11a tends to drop from its maximum speed at a about 50 feet. One >potential advantage to A is that even though it's incompatible with B, the >fact that it is in a different spectrum could mean less RF interference. > >Regulatory approval of 802.11g is scheduled for next year, so a release of >new AirPort hardware in the short-term is unlikely. > >In November, Apple announced the second generation of its AirPort >products, unveiling a base station with support for AOL users, 128-bit >encryption, and a built-in firewall. -- general wireless list, a bawug thing <http://www.bawug.org/> [un]subscribe: http://lists.bawug.org/mailman/listinfo/wireless
