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Broadcom Opens Up On Wireless Drivers

Posted by thevarguy on · 4 comments
WorksWithU.com; By Christopher Tozzi 		Mail this story
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As anyone familiar with the Linux wireless scene before 2006 knows, Broadcom, which manufacturers the wireless chipsets found in many laptops, was for a long time synonymous with everything evil about closed-source software. That’s changing. Here’s how

As anyone familiar with the Linux wireless scene before 2006 knows, Broadcom, which manufacturers the wireless chipsets found in many laptops, was for a long time synonymous with everything evil about closed-source software. That’s changing. Here’s how

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Comments (4)

theboomboomcars ·
I'll wait until broadcom actually releases, or contributes to the open driver until I buy a broadcom wireless device.
DrDubious ·
I can't help but wonder if perhaps the increasing usefulness of the open-source b43 project's drivers isn't behind this. "Guess we can't just stonewall them any more - let's try cutting them off with our own release to regain control."

What license are the new drivers released under? Can the B43 project legally re-use the code?
moopst ·
@DrDubious:

Apparently it's binary only drivers for their later cards. Rather piss poor performance on the "Open" front I'd say.
tracyanne ·
It's nice to know that I can now pretty much guarantee that any Broadcom equipped machines will work under Linux, but I won't be rushing out to buy a Broadcom card.

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