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Till now the 802.11 (a/b/g) wireless technology has mostly
been facilitating email and Internet access. That would change once products
based on new wireless standards-802.11n, 802.11e and 802.11r- arrive in the
market.
Moving Beyond Data
With enhanced speeds and more security, these upcoming standards would not
only allow a host of applications, including voice and video, to be put on
wireless but also enhance mobility as in the case of 802.11r. "802.11r
would permit connectivity aboard vehicles in motion, with fast handoffs from one
base station to another managed in a seamless manner. Handoffs are supported
under the "a", "b" and "g" implementations, but
only for data. The handover delay is too long to support applications like voice
and video," points out Shridhar Kadam, vice president, Product Engineering,
D-Link. The 802.11r standard that specifies fast BSS ("Basic Service
Set") transitions is currently awaiting approval.
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Beyond
Internet & Mail Access |
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Guest Networking:
Companies can set up a public network to provide access to suppliers,
contractors, and customers
Asset Tracking:
Location-based services can streamline the tracking of warehouse inventory
or devices, thereby eliminating excess, shortages, and delays
Voice over Wireless LANs:
Workers use cordless handsets and unified messaging as they move around in
a company facility
Outdoor Broadband:
Airports and city sites allow employees and the public to access networks
Health Care:
Hospitals use Wi-Fi networks to let physicians, nurses, and other
caregivers access and record information in patient rooms, treatment
areas, and elsewhere in and near the hospital
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The primary application currently envisioned for the 802.11r
standard is VOIP via mobile phones designed to work with wireless Internet
networks, instead of (or in addition to) standard cellular networks.
The 802.11n standard is expected to double the 54Mbps data
rate supported by 802.11g or 802.11a. 802.11n, and is an extension to the
802.11g standard that in the future will increase the speed to more than 100
Mbps. 802.11n will also offer a better operating distance than current networks.
However, 802.11n WLAN is unlikely to reach users before 2007, as this standard
is also not approved yet. Moreover, the industry too is divided on the specifics
of the standard.
802.11e as of July 2005 is a draft standard that defines a
set of Quality of Service enhancements for LAN applications, in particular the
802.11 Wi-Fi standard. The standard is considered of critical importance for
delay-sensitive applications, such as Voice over Wireless IP and Streaming
Multimedia.
Benefits of Going Wireless
Talking about the benefits of going wireless, Parag Arora, business
development manager, Cisco Systems, says that wireless networks make it possible
to speed business processes and improve service, reach new markets, and improve
overall productivity-all while reducing IT and administrative costs. Arora
cites a 2003 study of companies in the United States conducted by NOP World
Technology, which found that wireless LANs raised employee productivity by up to
27% and saved up to 90 minutes of time per employee per workday. The employees'
time saved had an annual dollar value of almost $14,000 per employee.
Pointing out that going wireless does not just mean doing
away with wires, Shridhar Kadam of D-Link says that wireless is all about
convenience and control to users as it gives workers the liberty to access their
work and network without being tied down to a desk.
"Now corporations, universities, hospitals, and other
organizations are embracing wireless networking because it further improves
productivity and lowers deployment costs. Wireless laptops, PDAs, Internet
phones, and other mobile devices allow corporate users to roam within the office
or around campus," he says. Kadam says that wireless is good for aesthetics
of offices or buildings as well. "Wireless technology can be used in
heritage buildings without affecting the interior aesthetics and the
architectural and structural features of building," he says.
"One of the key factors that need to be kept in mind
while deploying a wireless network is to ensure that the customers can take
advantage of existing network infrastructure and securely extend access to
employees whether they are at work, at home, or on the road," concludes
Arora.
Ravi Shekhar Pandey Page(s) 1
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