Intel and Cisco Aim to Improve Wi-Fi and VOIP

At Intel’s Developer Forum in San Francisco, the company announced that it has entered a new partnership with Cisco, in which the companies will work to improve Wi-Fi security and roaming and VOIP support.

“This technology is for Cisco access points and Centrino laptops based on [Intel's forthcoming] Napa processor,” said Cisco’s director of product management, wireless, Alan Cohen. “Our goal is to accelerate the adoption of secure wireless networking.”

Representatives for both companies presented the new Business Class Wireless Suite at the Develper Forum during a presentation by the general manager of Intel’s mobility group, Sean Maloney. Edward F. Moltzen of CRN reports:

In his speech, Maloney also revealed that Intel has agreed to work with electronics giant and notebook vendor Panasonic to improve notebook battery life. Maloney said that the joint development, which will include adding “some nickel” to existing battery technology, would add “as much as 30 percent improvement in overall life of battery.” Intel has stated a goal of providing eight-hour battery life in notebooks by 2008.

During his keynote, Maloney reiterated Intel’s mobile roadmap, which calls for the dual-core Yonah platform to ship early next year followed by a more power-efficient, dual-core Merom platform in the second half of 2006.

The partnership between Intel and Cisco is an extension of one that the two companies already had. The new Business Class Wireless Suite should become available early next year.

Chris is a staff writer for WebProNews. Visit WebProNews for the latest ebusiness news.