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Apple Abandons Development of Wireless Routers

"Apple is seemingly getting out of the router accessory business, ‘disbanding’ the division inside the company according to Bloomberg.  This means Apple will no longer develop its $99 AirPort Express, $199 AirPort Extreme or Time Capsule products. The report says Apple is reallocating employees to focus on its core consumer products that generate the vast majority of its revenue.

The newest AirPort devices are more than three years old, so the future of the products has been in doubt for a while. Sales revenue of AirPort products must pale in comparison to Apple’s other lines, which are counted in the tens of billions of dollars".

https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2016-11-21/apple-said-to-abandon-development-of-wireless-rou...

https://9to5mac.com/2016/11/21/apple-reportedly-stops-developing-airport-wifi-router-products-moving...

I am very surprised and plan on visiting an Apple Store to get more information.  I am wondering what other brand router type products are they going to recommend for use with the MAC products.


hgeifman
4 responses Add your response
dbtom2
382 posts
 
Disappointed to read that. My Apple Airport gear has been doing yeoman's service for years. When other wifi routers couldn't or wouldn't work in my house, the Airport Extreme and Time Capsule lit up right away. 
The Airport Utility app and program has been handy as well. Easy to set up and easy to lock down. 

Of course, I pretty much paid for the privilege. Apple's wireless gear worked well but also cost a lot more. 
hodu
312 posts
 
Apple has gone to hell since Steve Jobs died. It now goes forever between refreshing Macs. The watch is a joke. It says the iPod is a replacement for the PC, but then says it isn't. I could go on, but you get my drift.

toddverrone's avatar
toddverrone
840 posts
 
They're definitely drifting. Still, I love how stable their laptops are. I haven't really worked with many of their other products...
vegasears
1,173 posts
 
Very sad news.  I've used an Apple AirPort Extreme (AAE) router for a long time.  Unlike every other router I've used over the years, I have never needed to call tech support during installation or use a warranty.  When I saw the Bloomberg story last week, I looked at what's out there in the way to routers.  I sure hope my AAE keeps working, it's a confusing mess outside the Apple Ecosystem.
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