Has Apple jumped the gun in releasing AirPort Extreme products, which use a draft specification of the 802.11g standard? Some people think so, according to a SunSpot.net article.
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Apple introduced its Airport Extreme products at January’s Macworld Conference & Expo in San Francisco. While previous AirPort base stations operate at up to 11Mbps, AirPort Extreme operates at up to 54Mbps. It’s downwardly compatible with devices that use the slower 802.11b standard.
AirPort Extreme Base Stations support up to 50 users, wireless bridging to extend the range beyond just one base station, and USB printer sharing to allow multiple users to wirelessly share USB printers connected directly to the base station.
But the “g” standard isn’t due to be certified until later this year by the IEEE (Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers Inc.). Since it hasn’t been finalized, the “g” standard could change before it becomes official; as a result, the Gartner research firm warned businesses earlier this month not to buy any “g” products until then.
Apple isn’t concerned that its Airport Extreme products might be rendered noncompliant by possible changes to the “g” protocol, however. Apple spokesperson Nathalie Welch is quoting as saying that the company is “very confident” that, if necessary, it will be able to update its Apple Extreme products via a software or firmware update “that will keep everything in sync with the ratified standard.”