Atheros Unwires Xbox for High-Performance Wireless Gaming.Business Editors/High-Tech Writers SUNNYVALE, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Oct. 28, 2003 Using Atheros' Advanced Wireless-System-On-A-Chip, Xbox Wireless Adapter A device that adds wireless connectivity to a computer or PDA. It is attached via a USB port, PC Card, memory card or is plugged into the PCI bus inside the computer. There are three types of wireless adapters: Wi-Fi, cellular and Bluetooth. Connects an Xbox Video Game System to Broadband Gaming Services Atheros Communications, a leading developer of advanced, multimode wireless LAN A local area network that transmits over the air typically in the 2.4 GHz or 5 GHz unlicensed frequency band. It does not require line of sight between sender and receiver. Wireless base stations (access points) are wired to an Ethernet network and transmit a radio frequency over an area technology, today announced that its 802.11g wireless-system-on-a-chip (WiSOC) chipset A group of chips designed to work as a unit to perform a function. For example, a modem chipset contains all the primary circuits for transmitting and receiving. A PC chipset provides the electronic interfaces between all subsystems (see PC chipset for illustration). is featured in the new Xbox Wireless Adapter (MN-740) from Microsoft. The chipset enables users to connect to any 802.11g or 802.11b Wi-Fi network See wireless Ethernet and 802.11. and play games wirelessly via the Xbox Live See Xbox. service, the world's largest all-broadband console gaming service. Atheros worked closely with Microsoft's Xbox and Broadband Networking Groups to develop the wireless LAN adapter. Xbox Wireless Adapter began shipping in the U.S. and Canada this month at an estimated U.S. retail price of $139. "With this new adapter, Xbox will deliver both high-performance wireless gaming and an easy-to-use, seamless user experience," said Craig Barratt, president and chief executive officer of Atheros. "Atheros' wireless LAN technology is ideally suited for high-bandwidth, consumer applications like gaming, and we will continue to help partners like Microsoft develop multimedia products with advanced wireless capabilities." Supporting the 802.11g Wi-Fi standard, Xbox Wireless Adapter allows gamers to experience data rate transfer speeds up to 54 Mbps, which is five times faster than an 802.11b Wi-Fi network. The higher performance provides a significant increase in throughput, which results in a better user playing experience, including higher quality multiplayer and head-to-head gaming, live chats and other bandwidth-intensive applications. "Atheros' high performance and standards-based wireless LAN technologies made its chipset a preferred solution for Microsoft," said Todd Greenberg, product manager for Broadband Networking at Microsoft Corp. "This first-of-its-kind wireless adapter for Xbox gaming will make it much more convenient to experience Xbox Live from any Xbox-connected television in the home, without the need to use messy cables or drill holes in the walls." The Xbox Wireless Adapter uses Atheros' 802.11g WiSOC chipset, which supports 802.11b and 802.11g networks in the 2.4-GHz band. Atheros chipsets support the latest wireless security standards such as Wi-Fi Protected Access (networking, security) Wi-Fi Protected Access - (WPA) A security scheme for wireless networks, developed by the networking industry in response to the shortcomings of Wired Equivalent Privacy (WEP). (WPA WPA: see Work Projects Administration. WPA in full Works Progress Administration later (1939–43) Work Projects Administration U.S. work program for the unemployed. ) and draft 802.11i Advanced Encryption Standard (cryptography, algorithm) Advanced Encryption Standard - (AES) The NIST's replacement for the Data Encryption Standard (DES). The Rijndael /rayn-dahl/ symmetric block cipher, designed by Joan Daemen and Vincent Rijmen, was chosen by a NIST contest to be AES. (AES) without reducing performance. They also include draft 802.11e Quality of Service enhancements for multimedia and voice chat applications. For more information about Atheros, please visit www.atheros.com. About Atheros Communications, Inc. Atheros Communications is a leading developer of networking technologies for secure, high-performance wireless local area networks. As an innovator in advanced multi-mode wireless solutions compliant with the IEEE (Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, New York, www.ieee.org) A membership organization that includes engineers, scientists and students in electronics and allied fields. 802.11 specifications, Atheros is driving transparent connections among electronic devices in the office, home and on the road. Atheros technology is being used by many of the world's leading wireless equipment manufacturers. For more information, visit www.atheros.com or send email to info@atheros.com. Atheros and the Atheros logo are trademarks of Atheros Communications, Inc. All other trademarks mentioned in this document are the property of their respective owners. |
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