Agere, Infineon partner to develop 802.11 chips

Competing semiconductor vendors Agere Systems and Infineon Technologies are teaming up to develop high-performance 802.11 multi-mode chips that allow wireless local area networks to deliver up to 54 Mb/s of bandwidth.

The alliance, while focused on developing the multi-mode technology that blends the parts of the IEEE 802.11 standard, also aims to bring down the cost of the merged chip.

“In the first half of 2003, we’ll see dual-band products come to market that support the 802.11a/b standard,” said Dave Favreau, director of wireless products in Agere’s Client Systems Group. “Early indications are those first-generation products could be up to two times the cost of current 802.11b 11 megabits technology. The partnership we have is aimed at bringing multi-mode solutions that support all the IEEE standards [including 802.11g] so we can have one universal client card at price points at or below the current low-speed products.”

The chips can be used in LAN networks that range out about 100 meters and would provide 54 M/ps, letting operators “bring high-speed data to their mobile users while the market is waiting for 3G to come up,” said Tony Grewe, director of strategic marketing for Agere’s Client Systems Group. “It’s used in enterprise, home and education campuses as well.”

While the two companies will cooperate, they won’t trade secrets or personnel and will independently market their products. They will cross-license and patent the technology as part of the agreement. The development activity will be focused in Europe. Product samples will be available in the second quarter of next year. Engineering samples are now being evaluated at both companies.