D-Link has announced its new Wireless N 300 Gigabit Router (DIR-651), offering increased performance and speed over previous generation 802.11g devices.

It’s equipped with 802.11n technology, four gigabit ports to provide speeds up to 10 times faster than standard 10/100 ports, multiple intelligent antennas, and Intelligent Quality of Service (QoS). The DIR-651 transmits multiple streams of data, enabling users to receive network connectivity in hard to reach places — especially in larger homes, says Daniel Kelley, associate vice president of consumer marketing, D-Link North America.

With the addition of Intelligent Quality of Service (QoS), these data streams are separated to help organize and prioritize network traffic to give applications such as video streaming, gaming and VoIP calls priority over an activity such as web browsing, he adds. The DIR-651 also offers an enhanced wired connection with its four gigabit ports, purportedly providing speeds up to 10 times faster than standard 10/100 ports.

In addition to increased speed, the router also supports WPA and WPA2 security standards, as well as Wi-Fi Protected Setup (WPS) for push-button security and encryption from possible Internet threats. The DIR-651 Wireless N 300 Gigabit Router is now available at a manufacturer’s suggested retail price of US$89.99 throughout D-Link’s network of retail and e-tail outlets in North America, including Office Depot and Office Max (available in May), and at the company’s online store (http://www.dlinkshop.com).