Intel PRO/Wireless

Intel PRO/Wireless is a series of Intel wireless products.

History

After the release of the wireless products called Intel Pro/Wireless 2100, 2200BG/2225BG/2915ABG and 3945ABG in 2005, Intel was criticized for not granting free redistribution rights for the firmware necessary to be included in the operating systems for the wireless devices to operate.^[1] As a result of this, Intel became a target of campaigns to allow free operating systems to include binary firmwares on terms acceptable to the open source community. Linspire-Linux creator Michael Robertson outlined the difficult position that Intel was in releasing to Open Source, as Intel did not want to upset their large customer Microsoft.^[2] Theo de Raadt of OpenBSD also claimed that Intel is being "an Open Source fraud" after an Intel employee presented a distorted view of the situation on an open-source conference.^[3] In spite of the negative attention Intel received as a result of the wireless dealings, the binary firmware still has not gained a license compatible with free software principles.

Hardware

The successor to the PRO/Wireless series is Intel Wireless WiFi Link.

See also

• Comparison of open-source wireless drivers
• FIPS 140
• Wireless LAN

References

1. ↑ Varghese, Sam (2005-03-01). "OpenBSD to support more wireless chipsets". theage.com.au. The Age Company Ltd. Retrieved 2007-08-05. 
2. ↑ Robertson, Michael (2003-03-19). "Is Intel's "Centrino" Techno-Latin for "No Linux?"". michaelrobertson.com. Retrieved 2007-08-05. 
3. ↑ "Intel: Only "Open" for Business". OpenBSD Journal. 2006-09-30. Retrieved 2007-08-05.  |first1= missing |last1= in Authors list (help)

External links

• Official webpage.
• Intel PROSet/Wireless Software.
• Intel® Driver Update Utility.
• 2200 Linux drivers