Belkin to release pre-802.11n gear

Belkin is set to release pre-802.11n wireless LAN equipment that it claims will provide significantly greater performance than existing 802.11g equipment.

The equipment, which is aimed at the consumer market, uses Multiple Input, Multiple Output (MIMO) smart antenna technology provided by Airgo Networks.

MIMO is expected to be at the core of the 802.11n standard, which isn't expected to receive final ratification for at least another year. The standard promises Ethernet-like speeds for wireless networks but vendors are currently mired in disagreements about the precise details of the standard.

Belkin said in a statement its "pre-N" equipment will provide 800 percent wider coverage than current 802.11g equipment and will be 600 percent faster.

The company also claimed that its pre-N equipment is less prone to interference and is faster in mixed-mode environments in which there is equipment using different standards and from varying vendors.

The company also claimed that its pre-N products are certified by the Wi-Fi Alliance and are interoperable with 802.11b and 802.11g. The company said it will release a wireless router and a PC Card but provided no pricing information.