It's the buzz of the IT world after Apple announced that it will disband its division that develops the Apple AirPort wireless routers as more profitable products come into focus. Apple made the decision to sharpen the company's focus on products that generate the bulk of its revenue, according to a Bloomberg report.
The Cupertino-based tech company has started shutting down the wireless router team over the past year, moving engineers to other more-focused product development, including one involving Apple TV, according to Bloomberg reports citing anonymous sources.
Reports said that Apple's decision to disband the wireless team indicates the company isn't currently working forward with the new versions of its routers. Apple declined to comment when asked about this report.
According to Techcrunch, Apple's AirPort product line doesn't probably make any big revenue for the company, and that Apple needs to shift its focus to more profitable products. Apple has already done the same thing with its other products, working with third-party manufacturers for various electronic parts.
Apple shutting down its router development story has no longer come as a big surprise in the IT circle. The company hasn't updated its router line-ups since 2013, lagging behind new network technology. This has given some analyst a strong hint that Apple didn't see a solid future for this products. In other words, the product is not doing well and the decision to shut it down is the only remedy currently left on the table.
Additionally, the world has already seemed Apple begin to streamline its already streamlined product lineup, with some reports of exiting business in some key areas of the market.
Apple currently sells three wireless routers in the market, the AirPort Extreme, the AirPort Capsule, and the AirPort Express.
Meanwhile, arch-rival Google is actively investing in wireless routers and new network technology. In October, the search giant has introduced Google Wi-Fi, a mesh of home routers that provides seamless coverage throughout the home.
By dismantling its wireless team, Apple is now leaving the router market to Google and other players.
