Intel advances Centrino with faster wireless

3G and 802.11n are on the roadmap for the next generation of Centrino, due next year

Intel will embrace the upcoming high speed wireless LAN standard 802.11n with an upgrade to its Centrino wireless chipset.

Centrino, which is built into many laptops, currently only works with the three most widely deployed wireless standards ?¢‚Ǩ‚Äù a, b and g.

Next-generation equipment based on 802.11n will offer throughput of up to 300Mbps, compared with a maximum of 54Mbps at present.

802.11n hasn’t yet been certified, but several vendors are already shipping pre-certified kit. This has prompted Intel to release a new version of Centrino code-named Santa Rosa, which is due in the first six months of 2007.

Santa Rosa will be based on the Core 2 Duo processor, and it will also feature a built-in 3G EDGE module, provided by Nokia.

Santa Rosa’s two radios will give users a choice of wireless connectivity without having to install a separate datacard.

“Our vision for Centrino is that we have a solution that attaches to the fastest, or most cost-effective, solution available,” said Intel spokesperson Chris Hogg. “The enhancement will deliver many benefits to users.”

But critics were less convinced by the appeal of Santa Rosa.

Full article: ZDNet UK