Linksys, Ricochet unveil wireless LAN router

Linksys Group has teamed up with Ricochet Networks to build a router for homes, small offices and public wireless LAN hot spots that uses Ricochet's wireless wide-area data service, the companies announced Monday.

Users can attach an 802.11 wireless LAN access point to the Linksys Ricochet Router for a fully wireless network, the companies said in a statement. Alternatively, they can hook as many as four computers or other devices up to the Ricochet wireless service through four 10/100M bps (bit-per-second) Ethernet switch ports in the router.

The router, priced at $119.95, is equipped with a PC Card slot for a Ricochet wireless WAN (wide-area network) card, which is sold separately.

Home users can use the PC Card in a notebook PC while out of the house and then plug the same card into the router for shared Internet access over a LAN when they get home, said Matthew McRae, director of broadband at Linksys. In addition, a combined wireless LAN that also uses wireless for its WAN (wide-area network) connection can easily be moved and set up anywhere in the carrier's service area, he said.

The Ricochet service, operated over the company's proprietary Micro Cellular Data Network, operates at about four times the speed of dial-up Internet service, according to the companies. It is currently live in San Diego and Denver and next will become available in Dallas and Fort Worth, Texas. Service in more metropolitan networks will follow, McRae said.

Ricochet, in Denver, is a subsidiary of Aerie Networks Inc. It is currently offering the Linksys Ricochet Router to customers in San Diego and Denver. The network service costs $44.95 per month.