24 February 2003 Networking hardware giant Cisco will today announce plans to license for free some of its wireless technology to computer and semiconductor manufacturers in a bid to spur adoption.

Seven chip makers and a number of computer vendors have already agreed to use the technology. Licensees include Agere Systems, Hewlett-Packard, IBM, Intel and Texas Instruments.

The technology is called Cisco Compatible Extensions, software that can be integrated on a wireless communications chip and which Cisco says improves wireless networking security.

However, there is a proprietary twist in the tale: the technology Cisco will be licensing will include special features that only work with its own wireless networking hardware, a strategy intended to further drive sales of Cisco’s wireless products.

According to Synergy Research Group, Cisco was the leader of the $808 million global market for local area networking wireless hardware in 2002, with a 34% market share.