Wireless LAN Market
Implications

Over the last decade, the networking and wireless communities expected each year to become the year of the WLAN. WLAN technology had some false starts in the 1990s, for a variety of reasons. Immature technology, security concerns, and slow connectivity speeds kept WLAN technology from becoming a viable alternative to wired LANs. Each passing year provided the needed groundwork for the eventual acceptance of wireless technology.

Early WLAN applications focused on the needs of mobile knowledge workers who required access to real-time information. Innovative wireless solutions helped solve the following market-specific problems:

  • Manufacturing – Wireless technology is used to access manufacturer recommended price (MRP) and inventory management systems from the shop floor.
  • Healthcare – Wireless technology gives doctors and nurses access to real-time patient care information at the bedside.
  • Retail – Wireless technology enables sales people to make inventory checks without leaving the storefront.
  • Education – Wireless technology enables students and teachers to be connected to learning resources in campus environments

Thanks to the interoperability of standards and improved throughput speeds, WLAN solutions are now being widely deployed.

Several recent technological and strategic developments have helped wireless technologies develop more quickly:

  • The 802.11 standards have encouraged market acceptance and adoption.
  • Current wireless performance is not noticeably different from a wired connection for the average user.
  • Increased security using 128-bit encryption has reduced fears of inadequate privacy and control.
  • Longer-range APs have made solutions more feasible.

For the first time WLAN technology is being seriously considered as a way to complete an existing network or to create a new network. Market acceptance encourages new applications of WLAN technology across an enterprise. As users begin to enjoy the benefits of being connected anywhere, anytime, the growth and acceptance of wireless enterprise solutions is likely to continue.