Apple Introduces New AirPort Extreme with 802.11n

Apple Introduces New AirPort Extreme with 802.11n

January 10, 2007

Five Times the Performance & Twice the Range


    MACWORLD SAN FRANCISCO, Jan. 10 /Xinhua-PRNewswire/ --
Apple(R) introduced the new AirPort Extreme(R), a simple
and elegant wireless networking solution delivering up to
five times the performance and twice the range of the
previous AirPort Extreme. Based on 802.11n,* AirPort
Extreme extends a wireless network to even more areas in a
home or office and makes streaming digital content and
transferring large files faster and easier. The new AirPort
Extreme Base Station features a sleek, new design with
connections for networked computers, printers and a USB
hard drive to quickly and easily share files or back up
valuable data and content.

    "The new Airport Extreme is the most powerful and
easy to use Wi-Fi base station that we have ever
made," said Philip Schiller, Apple's senior vice
president of Worldwide Product Marketing. "With five
times the performance and twice the range, now you can
transfer bigger files faster and get access to the Internet
and your favorite digital media from many areas in your
house you couldn't reach before."

    Using MIMO (Multiple In Multiple Out) smart antennas
and 802.11n technology, AirPort Extreme now delivers
greater data throughput and extends the reach of wireless
connectivity to more areas of the home, business or school.
With the ability to operate in either the 2.4 GHz or 5 GHz
wireless frequencies, AirPort Extreme also reduces the
possibility of interference from appliances and cordless
phones that operate in the 2.4 GHz frequency. AirPort
Extreme is backward compatible with Macs and PCs using
previous generation 802.11b/g wireless technologies.

    The AirPort Extreme Base Station features a simple, new
design that is just 6.5 inches square and 1.3 inches tall,
and a built-in USB port allows users to print wirelessly to
a USB printer or turn any external USB hard drive into a
shared drive so they can share files or backup valuable
data from multiple computers on a network. New AirPort
Utility software included with every AirPort Extreme makes
it very easy to set up a secure, wireless network for up to
50 simultaneous users within minutes. Users can also set
security restrictions, including Internet access limits on
their childrens' computers.

    The AirPort Extreme Base Station also includes:

    -- 802.11n Wi-Fi wireless networking;
    -- MIMO (Multiple In Multiple Out) smart antennas;
    -- dual-band antennas for 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz
frequencies;
    -- three 10/100 Ethernet LAN ports;
    -- one 10/100 Ethernet WAN port;
    -- one USB port;
    -- Wi-Fi Protected Access (WPA/WPA-2), 128-bit WEP
       encryption; and
    -- a built-in NAT firewall.

    Pricing & Availability

    The new AirPort Extreme Base Station will be available
in February through the Apple Store(R) (
http://www.apple.com ), at Apple's retail stores and Apple
Authorized Resellers for a suggested retail price of $179
(US). Nearly all currently shipping Macs** support 802.11n
when updated with 802.11n Enabler software, which ships
with the AirPort Extreme Base Station.

    * The AirPort Extreme Base Station is based on an IEEE
802.11n draft specification and is compatible with IEEE
802.11a, IEEE 802.11b and IEEE 802.11g. Achieving the
fastest data rates requires that all users have an
802.11n-enabled computer. Actual performance will vary
based on range, connection rate, site conditions, size of
network and other factors.

    ** All Intel Core 2 Duo and Intel Xeon Macs except the
entry 17-inch iMac(R) with 1.83 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo
processor support the 802.11n technology.

    Apple ignited the personal computer revolution in the
1970s with the Apple II and reinvented the personal
computer in the 1980s with the Macintosh.  Today, Apple
continues to lead the industry in innovation with its
award-winning desktop and notebook computers, OS X
operating system, and iLife and professional applications.
Apple is also spearheading the digital music revolution
with its iPod portable music players and iTunes online
store.

    NOTE:  Apple, the Apple logo, Mac, Mac OS, Macintosh,
AirPort Extreme, Apple Store and iMac are trademarks of
Apple. Other company and product names may be trademarks of
their respective owners. 

    NOTE TO EDITORS: For additional information visit
Apple's PR website ( http://www.apple.com/pr/ ), or call
Apple's Media Helpline at [phone].


    For more information, please contact: 

     Janette Barrios, Apple
     Tel:   [phone]
     Email: [e-mail] 

     Teresa Brewer, Apple
     Tel:   [phone]
     Email: [e-mail] 


SOURCE  Apple Computer, Inc.