Apple confirmed Friday that it will charge Mac users a small fee to switch on faster and longer-range wireless technology already tucked into their machines.
The company said it will charge customers $1.99 to download software that will enable 802.11n wireless functionality in the chipsets of most Intel Core 2 Duo- and Xeon-based iMac, Mac Pro, MacBook, and MacBook Pro computers.
Last week, when Apple announced its new AirPort Extreme wireless base station, it said the software would be included with the $179 device. "For those customers who wish to enable their 802.11n functionality but do not wish to buy a new Airport Extreme base station, we are making the software available for download from the Apple Online Store," says company spokesperson Teresa Brewer.
The $1.99 fee, she adds, is an accounting requirement. "When a significant feature enhancement is added, we are required to charge customers who previously purchased the product," Brewer says.
According to standard accounting practice, software vendors must either charge for significant enhancements to already-shipping products or recognize some of the initial revenue as deferred. In this case, Apple chose the former.
Subsea cable alternatives can provide a level of comfort for those concerned about disruptions. Realistically, they will continue to play a small, but critical role in the short term.
Maintaining existing network infrastructures often incurs huge technical debt before newer technologies are adopted over time.
Amid ongoing regional uncertainties, telecom infrastructure in the Middle East has expand to include terrestrial low-latency network infrastructure, which offers resilience and agility in navigating political complexities without relying solely on undersea networks.
