Intel Corp. (Nasdaq: INTC) has already said that it expects 802.11b wireless LAN (WLAN) technology to become as prevelant as Ethernet networking (see Intel Preps WLAN Blast). Now the chipmaker is putting (more of) its money where its motherboard is with $150 million to invest in WiFi startups through its Intel Capital venture arm.

Intel is going to push money to startups that work out ways to develop easier and/or more secure ways of connecting to wireless networks and simpler combined billing mechanisms, among other things. The VC arm typically invests somewhere between $5 million to $10 million per startup.

Intel has already invested in WLAN startups iPass Inc., Bluesocket, and Interlink.

— Dan Jones, Senior Editor, Unstrung
http://www.unstrung.com