July 3 - 12:45am EDT   Just days after announcing Mac OS X-specific support, Linksys has announced its WRT610N Wi-Fi router, which offers wireless connectivity for 802.11b, 802.11g, and 802.11n devices on two separate spectrum bands simultaneously -- effectively doubling available wireless bandwidth. Designed so all types of wireless devices can achieve maximum bandwidth, the "Simultaneous Dual-N Band Wireless Router" is packaged in Linksys' new, low-profile glossy black housing and offers Draft N performance on both the 5GHz and 2.4GHz spectrums. Users can connect high-bandwidth 802.11n devices (such as video hubs, media extenders, etc.) to the higher-performance, 20-channel 5GHz band, ... [full story]

June 26 - 4:00pm EDT   Cell phone network provider Alltel today announced it teamed up with Wi-Fi network hotspot provider Boingo to expand Wi-Fi access to over 25,000 hotspots in stores, coffee shops and hotels across the US. Plans will be offered to existing Alltel subscribers, or anyone else on a daily or monthly basis without a contract. The company is also offering a Premium service for frequent travelers, which expands those hotspots to include hundreds of airports in the US and thousands more hotspots in Canada, Mexico and Europe. [full story]

June 24 - 12:45pm EDT   American Airlines will begin testing in-flight Wi-Fi technology on June 25th, a report claims. The technology is expected to debut on a round-trip flight between New York City's JFK and Los Angeles' LAX, and should it be successful, it could be quickly activated on number of other AA aircraft. Some 15 Boeing 767-200 planes are said to already have Wi-Fi installed, it just being a matter of activating the routers at will. [full story]

June 13 - 9:25am EDT   O2 has published new information on its expanded Wi-Fi service for iPhone owners. Beginning with the launch of the iPhone 3G on July 11th, Wi-Fi will grow beyond The Cloud to include BT's Openzone, which incorporates over 3,000 hotspots located around the UK and in various businesses around the world. In total, owners of either first-generation or 3G iPhones will access to more than 9,000 hotspots. [full story]

June 4 - 5:00pm EDT   AT&T on Wednesday announced the launch of its Net Reach bundle for laptop users on the go. The bundle's software finds and locks onto the strongest AT&T data network or Wi-Fi connection for a user's device wherever they are, be it EDGE, 3G, or Wi-Fi hotspots at home or elsewhere. The program works with a user's AT&T high-speed Internet and LaptopConnect services and includes access to over 17,000 hotspots in the US that use AT&T's Wi-FiSM service. [full story]

May 15 - 6:05pm EDT   AT&T on Thursday had scheduled its iPhone WiFi service to commence, but pulled the plug at the last minute, with little explanation as to why. CrunchGear reports that a notice went out from AT&T officials, describing that the planned launch was cancelled, and that the project is currently on an indefinite hiatus. The publication theorizes that the announcement was an effort on AT&T's part to offer original iPhone owners speedier internet connectivity, in light of the upcoming 3G version. [full story]

May 2 - 1:20pm EDT   Cisco subsidiary Linksys has released four new Wi-Fi routers, using designs which mark a significant departure from previous products. Whereas the company had typically used a signature box shape, often in blue or silver colors, the new routers are thin and curved, and almost exclusively shelled in glossy black material. Common features are said to include firewalls and 256-bit encryption, automatic push-button configuration, and MIMO antennas that improve reception and minimize dead spots. [full story]

April 28 - 9:50am EDT   QuickerTek has announced that it is shipping new versions of its Dualy Extreme Wi-Fi extender, this time designed around Apple's Time Capsule backup/NAS drives. The standard option consists of two 500mW transceivers (1W combined) connected to two antennas, which can increase the range of a Time Capsule up to five times; alternately, this may help power past nearby obstacles, such as signal interference or intervening walls and floors. [full story]

April 25 - 1:15pm EDT   AT&T and Starbucks have announced that they are finally beginning to deploy their joint Wi-Fi service, which lets existing AT&T customers go online from a cafe for free. To qualify, users must have one of AT&T's home or small business broadband packages, or a U-verse IPTV subscription; starting on May 1st, these people will need only login to "ATTWiFI" inside a Starbucks outlet. Some 7,000 locations should have Wi-Fi in May, though customers may already be able to login from San Antonio. [full story]

April 21 - 11:15pm EDT   Palm maybe looking to test its rumored WiFi-equipped Treo 800w, according to new reports. An email, sent to select individuals calling for Sprint customers who will use Bluetooth devices and have access to WiFi, was sent to potential beta testers, Engadget reports. The email sought "seasoned business professionals" who "commute and spend a ton of time working on email and on the phone." The report suggests that Palm may be looking to roadtest the Treo device ahead of its expected Sprint launch this summer. Preliminary specs indicate that the device will include Sprint's latest 3G EVDO Rev A network as well as integrated Wi-Fi and GPS functions; it is expected to replace ... [full story]

April 17 - 3:20pm EDT   French telecom company Orange has announced a new e-book reader, entitled the Read&Go. While most such readers -- like the Kindle -- are meant to be universal devices, Orange's machine concentrates almost exclusively on newspapers, namely Le Monde, Le Parisien, Les Echos, L'Equipe and Télérama. These are updated hourly throughout the day, through the unusual offering of both 3G and Wi-Fi reception. By contrast the Kindle is only equipped with 3G, and strictly through Sprint's EVDO service. [full story]

April 16 - 12:40pm EDT   Russians may soon be forced to register each and every device they own that has Wi-Fi capabilities, a local news publication reports. Fontanka writes that the policy has been adopted by the government agency responsible for regulating communications and cultural protection, and may only allow people to use a Wi-Fi device so long as they have special permission. The registration of items like smartphones and notebooks could take up to 10 days, while routers may require extra documentation, as well as a proper license. In locations such as Moscow and St. Petersburg, people may need the approval of the FSB, the successors to the KGB. [full story]

April 3 - 5:00pm EDT   Slingshot on Thursday announced it will offer pay-as-you go wireless broadband Internet access. Customers will be able to pick up CDs from retailers or download a free program and set up an account, and won't have to go through credit checks or sign any contracts, like they do with traditional Internet providers. A slingshot.com email address will be included with each packet of time purchased, though it is unclear exactly how time will be sold. For frequent users, the option of buying and loading up a recharge card is offered. What is likely is that some kind of adapter for notebook cards or USB modems will be required to sign on from remote locations. [full story]

March 19 - 3:40pm EDT   Intel has announced more details on its plans for wireless in Centrino 2 systems, a Taiwanese publication reports. The centerpiece option is its "Echo Peak" module, which combines 802.11n Wi-Fi with support for WiMAX, the company's cellular-like standard that has greater range. This will however come at a significant cost to end users, as Intel is charging OEMs themselves $43 to $54, depending on specifications. [full story]

March 18 - 1:20pm EDT   Intel says it has devised a new Wi-Fi technology, meant to increase the availability of Internet access worldwide. The Rural Connectivity Platform (RCP) consists mainly of a processor, radios, software and an antenna, and operates on a point-to-point scheme said to deliver up to 6.5Mbps at distances exceeding 60 miles. The hardware has already been installed in places such as India, Panama and Vietnam, and is expected to go on sale in India this year for less than $500 per node. [full story]