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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
Source: Dataquest
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