The embedded-software developer with a long history provides its expertise for integration with the Linux operating system: Devicescape has been developing stacks--the protocol implementations--for Wi-Fi for years for embedded devices, which includes equipment from major manufacturers like Palm and Gateway. They've contributed their proprietary software for the purpose of eventual integration with the main Linux kernel development tree. Their software includes the latest and greatest Wi-Fi properties, such as quality of service (QoS) via WMM (a Wi-Fi Alliance version of part of the IEEE 802.11e standard) and WPA security, and incorporates long-running projects for software host-based access points. There's great coverage at Linux Devices of this announcement.
Part of their motivation is to make it easier for developers who use Linux to integrate Wi-Fi into their projects. Their release allows programmers to write a thin layer of integration to the Devicescape API. There's apparently full Atheros support (via their own abstraction layer) and Broadcom support.
Where's the profit motive in this? The company can obviously still be a consultant, developer, and support operation for Linux customers, as well as providing an alternate license for developing software for folks who want a closed approach, and Windows CE and Windows Mobile developers.
Devicescape also said they're pushing out an update to its commercial software that will make securing networks easier using technology that's part of an effort in progress at the Wi-Fi Alliance called Easy Access that will tie together initiatives from multiple chipmakers and manufacturers.