3Com Corp, Santa Clara has teamed up with Pioneer Monolithics Inc, Sunnyvale, to offer a wireless Ethernet extension to existing local area networks. The Pioneer technology, which has been licensed by Ethernet adaptor king 3Com, is claimed to be the first to enable wireless local networks to operate at a full 10Mbps. The agreement gives 3Com exclusive rights to develop, manufacture and sell wireless network prod-ucts based on the radio technology. 3Com claims that, combined with its EtherLink III Parallel Tasking technology, it provides the highest performance and lowest cost for wireless networking in the industry. 3Com is also taking on a Pacific Monolithics design team to continue development efforts. The system is based on a Gallium Arsenide Radio Frequency front end. No price or availability details of products were given. 3Com will also be cutting the prices of its local network adaptor board range again in January: 3Com has been briefing its distributors on the changes which presage the introduction of higher-speed offerings.
