Apple is reportedly planning to stop making Wi-Fi routers, so its AirPort Extreme, AirPort Express and AirPort Time Capsule might soon become collectibles.
The company has reportedly decided to dissolve its Wi-Fi router division, discreetly cutting it down over the past year and reassigning team members to other divisions.
Shifting Focus To More Profitable Devices
By axing the Wi-Fi router division, Apple reportedly aims to "sharpen" its focus on successful devices that bring in the most revenue, Bloomberg reports.
"Apple began shutting down the wireless router team over the past year, dispersing engineers to other product development groups, including the one handling the Apple TV, said the people, who asked not to be named because the decision hasn't been publicly announced," reveals the publication.
While Apple made no public announcement in this regard just yet, the move doesn't seem very surprising. The company has not refreshed its Wi-Fi router lineup in years. It used to make frequent updates in the past, always trying to stay up to date with the latest standards, but it hasn't launched a new router since 2013.
The End Of An Era
It seems the Wi-Fi division that was once essential to Apple's developments has gradually become dispensable, heralding the end of an era for Apple. The company's original AirPort Base Station played an important role in making wireless networking more popular and bringing it to the mainstream, leaving fans in awe when Steve Jobs went online without using an Ethernet cable.
For a good while, Apple was among the first to adopt new Wi-Fi standards, constantly updating its lineup and pushing toward innovation. The AirPort Express crossed notable milestones in networked audio, while the Time Capsule brought along fully-integrated network backups.
Time For A Change
In today's connected world, however, Apple is no longer a big innovator in the Wi-Fi router segment. The scene has changed and competition has become fiercer, making it tougher to come up with something that would truly stand out from the crowd.
As Apple reportedly exits the market, meanwhile, Google is making strides to dive deeper into the Wi-Fi router business. The Google Wifi routers promise to revolutionize home connections by increasing coverage and offering smart features through tiny meshed routers.
Google might see room for improvement, but Apple apparently prefers to bow out and focus on more profitable devices such as iPhones, iPads and MacBooks.
As always, however, take all leaks and reports with a grain of salt until official confirmation.
