Wireless could soon have wings

Wireless networks may soon be a reality on airlines as a result of new chipsets from start-up Engim that allow one WiFi access point to carry data on multiple channels.

PC World reports that the Massachusetts company`s new EN-3001 Wideband Wireless LAN chipset and access point reference designs for 802.11b and 802.11g are designed to use three channels at once, enabling more devices in a confined area to use WiFi.

Engim is adding to its line-up a thin access point in which packets are processed in the chipset rather than on a separate processor. Also new is a feature in Engim`s radio chip called "transmit cancellation", which can prevent interference that an access point`s transmitting antenna can cause to the same access point`s receiving antenna.

Microsoft has made its first move to fight off competition from free e-mail rivals such as Google and Yahoo by increasing Hotmail`s anti-virus protection, reports Techweb.

The report says Hotmail formerly scanned for viruses and other malicious code only in incoming messages, but now the McAfee-based anti-virus scanner scans both inbound and outbound mail, and deletes any malware it finds.

Hotmail will also soon implement its already-announced plans to increase storage space for both its free and paying users.

Electronic Data Systems (EDS) has announced a service to help customers track software patches for desktop computers.

ZDNet says this latest product is aimed at easing company security concerns. EDS says the offering is part of a broader array of desktop computer services requiring little human intervention. The patch management piece is now in pilot testing and will be available generally by the fourth quarter of this year.