wireless network -- and includes "powerful" security technologies.

The new devices introduced this week are Microsoft Wireless Base Station MN-700, a router with an integrated 802.11g wireless access point and four-point Ethernet switch; Wireless Notebook Adapter MN-720, for adding a notebook computer to the wireless network; Wireless PCI Adapter MN-730, for adding a desktop computer to the network; Wireless Notebook Kit MN-820, a kit for creating a wireless network for a desktop and notebook; and Xbox Wireless Adapter MN-740, enabling "high-performance Xbox gaming without the hassle of wires," Microsoft said.

The following Wireless-G family products were announced this week, priced as indicated . . .

• Wireless Base Station (MN-700) -- $109
  
• Wireless Notebook Adapter (MN-720) -- $84.95
  
• Wireless PCI Adapter (MN-730) -- $84.95
  
• Wireless Notebook Kit (MN-820) -- $179
  
• Xbox Wireless Adapter (MN-740) -- $139

Base station features Windows CE

The wireless base station (pictured above), a network router with integrated 802.11g wireless access point and 4-port Ethernet switch, is powered by Microsoft's own Windows CE .NET 4.2 operating system.

Features of the base station include . . .

• Windows CE .NET 4.2 embedded OS
  
• 54 Mbits/sec wireless data rate
  
• One WAN Ethernet port, plus built-in four-port 10/100bits/sec Ethernet switch for local network
  
• Capable of connecting up to 253 wired and wireless computers
  
• VPN passthrough and tunneling
  
• Compatibile with both 802.11g and 802.11b Wi-Fi networks
  
• Supports 256-bit Wi-Fi Protected Access (WPA) and 128-bit Wired Equivalent Privacy (WEP) security protocols
  
• Hardware Stateful Packet Inspection (SPI) firewall and Network Address Translation (NAT)
  
• Universal Plug-and-play (UPnP) support

Family features

Microsoft listed the following key features of the Microsoft Wireless-G products . . .

• Easy installation -- Microsoft Wireless-G is designed to make high- performance wireless home networking easy. An enhanced Setup Wizard provides step-by-step instructions for installation and enables additional PCs to be added to the network quickly and efficiently.
  
  
• Auto Update -- Microsofts proprietary Auto Update service automatically sends a message when updates are available, keeping consumers up to date with ever-changing software enhancements. The Wireless Base Station MN-700 is powered by Windows CE .NET 4.2, enabling Microsoft, its partners and other developers to create additional applications and benefits for customers.
  
  
• Premier security -- Wireless-G helps keep the network safe from wireless eavesdroppers with premier, easy-to-use security features, including Wi-Fi Protected Access (WPA). In addition, Wired Equivalent Privacy (WEP) is automatically turned on by the Setup Wizard and a stateful packet inspection (SPI) hardware firewall helps protect users from Internet intruders.
  
  
• High performance at the speed of G -- Wireless-G supports speeds of up to 54 Mbps and includes Parental Controls, the first key feature written for the flexible Windows CE platform. Parental controls allow parents or employers enhanced control over access to Internet content via the network.
  
  
• Innovations in wireless gaming -- Co-developed by Xbox and Microsoft Broadband Networking, Xbox Wireless Adapter enables gamers to play on the Xbox Live service from any Xbox-connected television in the home -- without wires -- by adding Xbox to an existing 802.11g or 802.11b Wi-Fi network.

Microsoft said the above-listed family of Wireless-G products will become available in North America by the end of this month.