The 802.11n task group of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers approved the first draft of a new WiFi standard at a recent meeting in Hawaii.
Final vote was 184-0, with four abstentions. Final ratification of the standard is not expected until next year, and several revisions are expected to take place before that final standard is ratified.
The 802.11n WiFi update will allow notebook users to connect to wireless access points at much faster speeds than currently available with 802.11g technology. It will use a technology called multiple-in, multiple-out (MIMO), which allows the use of multiple antennas that can each handle more than one data signal at a time.
This technique is expected to improve the range and throughput of 802.11n products to the point where they should be able to send video content around a house without interrupted playback. Products with 802.11n chips will be able to work with older 802.11a/b/g products at their slower speeds.