CNET editor Wylie Wong reports that after a year of pushing what many analysts said was a losing technology (HomeRF), Intel has now changed its tune and is instead backing Wi-Fi (a.k.a. 802.11B). Wong writes . . .

“Intel, one of the first companies to sell technology that allows consumers to wirelessly connect their home computers to the Net, previously supported a wireless standard called HomeRF that is backed by Compaq Computer, Motorola, Proxim, Siemens and others. Now the giant chipmaker is supporting Wi-Fi, or 802.11B, a wireless standard backed by Apple Computer, Cisco Systems, 3Com, Lucent Technologies, and dozens of others . . .”

“The split among tech companies in the emerging home-networking market has caused a standards war that analysts say is akin to the VCR technology fight that pitted VHS against Betamax in the early days of videotape machines in the home . . .”

“But analysts say the about-face by Intel gives Wi-Fi an edge to win out as the standard in the home.”

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