Author: Wayne Slavin

Interoperability problems are only going to get worse as more companies implement non-standard extensions to Wi-Fi devices. Via [insight.zdnet.co.uk]

Wi-Fi hotspot aggregators are increasingly appealing to IT organizations, as the wireless technology becomes a complement to existing enterprise remote access and broadband services, according to a report from META Group. Via [techweb.com]

While networking vendors were a bit slow to support 802.11a products, consumer manufacturers were not. "Home entertainment devices from companies like Sony are coming out with integrated high-speed connections, and they were designed to work with 802.11a, not g," said Michael Disabato, a senior analyst at the Burton Group. Via [technewsworld.com]

Wi-Fi providers who redirect users' web browsers to their own log-in page may soon have to cough up cash if they want to continue using the technique - US network access software company Nomadix has patented it. Via [theregister.co.uk]

Amtrak is expanding its Wi-Fi service to six Northeastern U.S. train stations, in a move to attract more business travelers. Via [news.com.com]

Atheros Communications will release a single-chip 802.11g product in the second quarter that lowers the cost of placing that technology in notebooks or personal digital assistants (PDAs), Atheros said Monday. Via [infoworld.com]

From hockey rinks to RV parks to ships at sea, wireless firms are making big net connections. Via [washingtonpost.com]

Broadband equipment maker Netopia on Friday announced a program designed to spur manufacturers to develop more Wi-Fi cordless phones. Via [news.com.com]

Intel Capital, the venture capital arm of semiconductor chip-maker Intel Corp., has invested in a Tokyo-based mobile virtual network operator that is offering nationwide fixed-price wireless access through both wireless LAN and mobile telephone networks. Via [infoworld.com]

Intel is to develop Linux drivers for its Centrino platform, providing the open source OS with access to the notebook system's wireless networking technology. Via [theregister.co.uk]

Regardless of the amount of Wi-Fi security infrastructure, end-users often are the weakest link, because they can be fooled or coerced into giving up user IDs, passwords and WEP keys. Consequently, organizations need to create and, more importantly, enforce security policies. Via [newsfactor.com]

BT Openzone today said it will roll out Wi-Fi hotspots at 15 railway stations in the UK. Via [theregister.co.uk]

An emerging wide-area wireless broadband technology known as WiMax shows promise as a "last mile" solution for bringing high-speed Internet access into homes--but it's still a few years away from general availability, according to an Intel executive. Via [news.com.com]

It took a while, but 802.11g-based USB adapters are now available from most vendors. In this mini-roundup, we'll look at USB 2.0 offerings from four major vendors--Buffalo Technology, D-Link, IOGear, Linksys, and Netgear. Via [wi-fiplanet.com]

Once upon a time, we were awed by the 11-Mbps top throughput of 802.11b wireless networking and were glad to have it. Then last year, the much faster 802.11g appeared, with its 54-Mbps data rate threshold and 802.11b compatibility. But if that still isn't enough to keep your business or home network humming, consider the...