VIA Technologies unveiled its first 802.11g wireless LAN controller this week, enabling cost-effective 54Mb/s solution compatible with widely-adopted 802.11b standard. The announcement indicates once again that wireless networks are gaining momentum these days.

VIA Networking VT6655 WLAN Controller, a single chip solution featuring an IEEE 802.11g media access controller (MAC) and integrated baseband processor. Enabling data rates between wireless devices of up to 54Mbps. Designed with flexibility in mind, the VIA Networking VT6655 is compatible with a choice of PCI 2.2, Mini-PCI or Cardbus interfaces, and offers seamless compatibility with the leading RF chips currently available.

Higher-speed 802.11g networking can boost the rate of adoption of the wireless networks in environments where local area network’s transfer speed is crucial.

Backwards compatible with the 802.11b standard, VIA Networking VT6655 based devices enable smooth migration for all 802.11b-based networks, without the need to sacrifice existing WLAN infrastructure.

VIA Networking VT6655 also ensures optimum data security through the Wi-Fi Protected Access (WPA) specification. The forthcoming WPA 2.0 specification is also supported, which will be enabled through a downloadable software update. The VIA Networking VT6655 is Wi-Fi certified by the Wi-Fi Alliance (formerly WECA), the global organization that oversees the Wi-Fi interoperability certification program. In order to receive official Wi-Fi certification, all IEEE 802.11 products must undergo rigorous independent testing.

VIA did not said when the VT6655 is planned to be available for partners and customers.