Wireless home networking battle ahead?

A possible battle is brewing over efforts to improve three competing wireless networking formats for the potentially huge market in home networking.

The three formats are HomeRF, the short-range Bluetooth standard, and wireless Ethernet, also known as 802.11, and the only format deployed so far. The first HomeRF-based products are expected to ship this spring, while Bluetooth-enabled devices could be available within six months.

Home networking is seen as a way for households with multiple PCs and a single high-speed Internet connection to share Web access and peripherals.

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