D-Link hails 802.11n, announces three products

Networking company D-Link Systems is already seeing consumers and businesses switching to 802.11n, even though the wireless LAN technology isn't a ratified standard.

Sales are increasing as consumer confidence rises with knowledge that the standard is expected to be adopted by the end of the year, said D-Link spokesman Les Goldberg in an e-mail. People can invest in the technology without fear that their products will be obsolete in the near future, according to Goldberg.

The move to 802.11n, which promises higher speeds and better coverage, is also helped by more manufacturers like D-Link incorporating the standard in a variety of network products, including routers, IP (Internet Protocol) cameras and storage devices, Goldberg said.

The network company announced three 802.11n compatible products -- two wireless routers and one network camera -- at the Consumer Electronics Show on Tuesday.

The Xtreme N DIR-685 combines a Wi-Fi router with network attached storage via a built-in slot for 2.5-inch hard drive, print server and 3.2-inch LCD monitor for displaying digital photos and network diagnostics.

The Xtreme N 450 Dual Band Router is the D-Link's fastest router so far, and can in theory support up to 450Mbps, according to the company. What that means in real-world terms remains to be seen.

The D-Link 802.11n Network Camera, or DCS-1130, supports remote monitoring of live streaming video from a Web browser. Users can view the live feed from the camera using a 3G-enabled cell phone.

The products are all expected to ship late in the first quarter or early in the second quarter. By then, D-Link will also announce pricing, according to Goldberg.

IDG News Service

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