Airport Extreme 802.11n Enabler Patch Coming Next Month

Intel Core 2 Duo processor-based Apple Mac computers, including MacBook and MacBook Pro laptops, incorporate the next generation 802.11n wireless technologies. But, in order to enable it, the customers will have to install “Airport Extreme 802.11n Enabler 1.0” patch.

The 802.11n Mac patch will be available starting next month and will cost $4.99, Apple Insider reports.

If you decide to buy the 802.11n compatible Apple’s AirPort Extreme Base Station wireless access point, priced at $179, the patch fee is waived, according to Apple Insider.

The 802.11n wireless speed is claimed to scale to 600Mbit/sec, with a range 50% greater than Wi-Fi currently offers. The 802.11n is currently the draft standard and expected to be ratified by IEEE (The Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers) in 2008.

Update 01/20/2007: CNet reports that Apple has confirmed that it plans to charge customers a fee to download software that will enable the 802.11n capability in the Wi-Fi chips found in some MacBook and MacBook Pro systems. But it won’t cost $5, as many reports indicated. It will cost $1.99, and will be available on Apple’s Web site, said Lynn Fox, an Apple spokeswoman.