May 11, 2004
(IDG News Service)
Microsoft Corp. announced today that it has decided to stop producing wireless networking products and will discontinue its range of gear using the 802.11b wireless networking standard.
"Microsoft is scaling back its presence in the category," a Microsoft spokeswoman said. "However, the broadband networking routers and [network interface cards] are only sold in the North American market, so the move does not have any relevance in the U.K. or EU markets," she said.
The spokeswoman declined to comment on why the company is exiting the Wi-Fi field.
Microsoft will sell the remaining Wi-Fi products it has in stock, and the company will support its existing products through their two-year warranty period, though service beyond that time frame won't be offered, she said.
The software vendor entered the Wi-Fi market in 2002, and its products, such as the Broadband Networking Wireless Kit and its Wireless-G line, have generally received high marks from consumers and reviewers.