Networking News – From US Robotics and Fast Wi-Fi (PCGH Retro June 12)

… 1997: It is the largest merger in the booming network industry to date: 3Com, a leading manufacturer of network solutions and once founded by Ethernet inventor Robert Metcalfe, takes over the traditional company US Robotics on June 12, 1997, which is best known for its analog modems. This means that the Palm company also becomes the property of 3Com, but is later spun off again. The situation is similar for US Robotics itself, which also becomes independent again in 2000; some parts of the company initially remain with 3Com, but are later sold under the Commworks name. Lots of movement – which doesn’t change the fact that completely different companies are now setting the tone on the modem market: instead of analog modems, cable and DSL access is the order of the day.

… 2003: So far, wireless networks have hardly competed with Ethernet cabling: they are too insecure, too expensive, too slow. At least the third problem is now alleviated, because on June 12, 2003, the IEEE passed the WLAN standard 802.11g. It allows a theoretical data transmission rate of up to 54 Mbit/s, and although the speeds that can actually be achieved are significantly lower, this means that WLAN is becoming a serious alternative to the good old cable for the first time for many.