Qualcomm buys Atheros

[curaga]

Is this goodbye to their good FOSS wireless drivers?

http://www.semiaccurate.com/2011/01/...-buys-atheros/

[L33F3R]

i sure hope not. Currently using one of their chips right now inside my desktop :P. Couldn't be happier.

Although its a dlink card, and dlink can fuck itself.

[DeepDayze]

i sure hope not. Currently using one of their chips right now inside my desktop :P. Couldn't be happier.

Although its a dlink card, and dlink can fuck itself.

Dlink's OK but the ath5k/9k drivers will definitely work

I sure hope Qualcomm will keep atheros chips open though

[mlau]

Dlink's OK but the ath5k/9k drivers will definitely work

I sure hope Qualcomm will keep atheros chips open though

They've invested in the "Code Aurora Forum" which creates free drivers for their
MSM chips. I presume they bought Atheros because they have no interest
in developing their own wlan hardware (wlan is missing in their wireless technology
portfolio).

[DeepDayze]

They've invested in the "Code Aurora Forum" which creates free drivers for their
MSM chips. I presume they bought Atheros because they have no interest
in developing their own wlan hardware (wlan is missing in their wireless technology
portfolio).

We shall see what their stance is in relation to open source going forward. Will they continue encouraging open driver development or even contribute code for the existing line of Atheros wlan chips or future ones or going back to just blobs? I for one certainly hope they continue supporting Open Source and I'm sure that Qualcomm's very mindful of the reputation Broadcom had before that company opened their drivers.