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First "son of WiFi" 11g devices announced - Linksys to sell.

If ever the day comes that WiFi devices simply vanish from the world, then the rival wireless LAN system using that 2.4 GHz frequency may be a big boost. So thinks Linksys, which has announced its first 802.11g devices ...

The theory is that 802.11g runs at 50 megabits per second - five times the speed of the 11 megabit 802.11b standard. The trouble is, the world is full of people who are pretty sure that it won't do this reliably.

Linksys says this doesn't matter; it's switching over from 11b to 11g now, to catch the Xmas rush. First products have been announced and the first of the Instant Wireless-G line are now being previewed in Las Vegas on the Linksys booth at Comdex

They are: a PC Card, Access Point and Wireless Router.

"There is clearly a demand for higher speed 2.4GHz WLAN products," said Victor Tsao, Linksys President and CEO. "As the worldwide leader in shipments of wireless LAN products, we are committed in being first to offer and deliver the latest wireless technology that improves upon the value, performance and usability of a wireless network. Based on the IEEE 802.11g draft specification, this launch of Wireless-G lets us provide immediate higher speed wireless connectivity at home, work and hot spots locations without compromising the use of existing 802.11b products."

But sceptics say that if the 11g device sees an 11b device in the same area, it will slow down to 11b speeds itself. Others say that the 11g standard is, after all, still in draft, and this is an attempt to pre-empt the standard.

US prices have been announced:

Linksys Wireless-G PC Card (WPC54G) $ 79.99

Linksys Wireless-G Access Point (WAP54G): $ 139.99

Linksys Wireless-G Router (WRT54G): $ 149.99