Intel Corp., the world’s largest maker of silicon chips for computers, has decided to abandon the plan to incorporate wireless LAN functionality into its i915- and i925X-series desktop chipsets. The move was said to be conditioned by low demand from OEMs for the technology.

“Based on customer feedback and strong growth in external wireless access point deployments, we no longer plan to bring integrated wireless access points to our i925X/i915 platforms at this time,” the company’s spokesman Radoslaw Ceplin told X-bit labs on Monday.

In late 2003 Intel Corp. promised to bring wireless local area networks controller’s logic into its chipsets code-named Grantsdale and Alderwood. A mainly advertised feature of this Wi-Fi technology was a potentially free Access Point that allowed a PC based on i915- or i925X-series chipsets to serve as a hub for Internet access to other computers equipped with WLAN cards.

“Intel is pleased to see that wireless usage continues to grow in the home and office due to the wide availability of third party wireless solutions. For example, many Internet service providers offer free access point routers as part of their packages,” it was added.

Earlier this year Intel said it would delay the support of Wi-Fi by its fresh breed of chipsets. The reason for postpones of Intel’s software WLAN access points (AP) were not clear, but one of the possible problems might be availability of special daughter cards with antennas required for wireless networks’ operation. Along with cancellation of software APs it is unclear whether Intel’s plans to offer any WLAN controllers oriented at desktops.

“Intel continues to invest in a wide range of integrated wireless technologies and continues to work with our customers to determine appropriate market timing and product needs,” said Mr. Ceplin.