Gigabit-speed Ethernet forges ahead. (Gigabit Ethernet Alliance expands) (Industry Trend or Event)(Brief Article)

Gigabit ethernet may be years away from a final standard, but most big networking vendors have said they will support it, and one company plans to offer products before the end of the year.

Earlier this month, major vendors including Cabletron Systems Inc., Digital Equipment Corp., Hewlett-Packard Co., National Semiconductor Corp., and Apple Computer Inc. joined the Gigabit Ethernet Alliance. Companies, including Cisco Systems Inc., 3Com Corp., and Bay Networks Inc., founded the group in May. The alliance will further the development of a standard through proposals to the IEEE and development of interoperability testing.

Gigabit Ethernet is designed to provide …