While high-end laptop PCs or deep-pocketed commercial users will move to faster 802.11a and 802.11g wireless networking by 2004, AMD predicts, today's 802.11b WiFi technology will soon be a staple of everything from PDAs and cell phones to car-dashboard information systems -- and an ultra-efficient and -compact new WiFi chipset from AMD will help make it so.

The chipmaker's Personal Connectivity Solutions group has announced sample availability of the Alchemy Solutions Am1772 WLAN chipset, plus a reference design kit for a WiFi adapter that takes only one side of a 2.8 by 1.8-inch Mini PCI card. By contrast, AMD points out, rivals like Agere Systems use both sides of a card, making the Am1772 a prime candidate for combo products and other implementations expected when production quantities ship in the first quarter of 2003.