802.11n draft 2.0 spec nears completion
updated 02:50 pm EST, Fri January 19, 2007
802.11n Draft 2 Complete
The second prototype form of the 802.11n Wi-Fi standard has been completed by the IEEE, according to a report by a member of the standards group. The organization decided unanimously to send the spec to the companies involved in developing the 200Mbps-plus wireless format. If approved, the second iteration -- named Draft 2.0 -- will become the official working model, leading ultimately to the final version due in early 2008.
Controversy has surrounded 802.11n since its inception, as competing chipset makers threatened to make routers and network adapters that were incompatible with each other and disagreed over differences in features; many existing 802.11n devices, the most recent of which include Apple's Airport Extreme and Apple TV, currently use the early Draft 1.0 interpretation. However, most if not all existing hardware running the initial 802.11n draft should be eligible for a seamless upgrade, according to their manufacturers. [via Ars Technica]
