MIMO, the "multiple in, multiple out" wireless standard otherwise known as 802.11n, hit a milesone a
few days ago when the IEEE working group gave tentative approval for the 1.0 version of the 802.11n specification. This
means that MIMO-compliant equipment such as routers, PC Cards, PDAs, laptops, etc. can start to be planned (for the
holiday 2006 season no less) now that a working standard has been approved. There are already MIMO devices out there as
we all know, but they are operating on a non-approved standard. With firmware downloads coming off the internet for
these devices most likely, this is of little concern of course.Once the WiFi Alliance gets on board with the upcoming MIMO approval and documented industry standard, expect the marketing materials for every wireless router on the globe to be screaming MIMO from its product box. In fact, they could go the informercial route and have the labels 802.11b and 802.11g crossed out with big red Xs and then have MIMO in bright yellow stamped across the face of the box. Advertisers are so clever.
