Airgo Networks, the pioneer developer of multiple input/multiple output technology for wireless broadband applications, has announced the third generation of its True MIMO chipset, supporting data rates up to 240 Mb/s. The chipset is sampling now to Airgo’s partners, with retail product availability expected by late in the fourth quarter this year.

The speed and reliability of the latest version of the Airgo chipset will provide necessary bandwidth to support content, such as media-rich Internet, large files, video, IPTV, music, photos and games, over wireless networks such as those based on the 802.11a/b/g standards and the emerging 802.11n Wi-Fi standard. 802.11n has been proposed as a wireless replacement for the wired cabling of 10/100 Ethernet in application venues such as networked homes and offices.

"The emergence and mass adoption of MIMO-enhanced 802.11a/b/g marks the ascendance of wireless as the preeminent networking technology," said Craig Mathias, a principal with the wireless and mobile advisory firm Farpoint Group, in a statement that was issued by Airgo. "The ability for wireless to surpass the speed, range and reliability of wired networking is the key to making the wire-free office and digital home a reality, and will usher in a host of powerful new applications in the home entertainment and wireless communications markets."