What is Wi-Fi?
The broadband(high-speed) wireless Web is being built around a technology known as Wi-Fi, or 802.11b. Wi-Fi stands for wireless fidelity, an increasingly popular networking standard that's used to create Wireless Local Area Networks (WLANs) in homes and offices at speeds up to 11 megabits per second, far faster than the peak 384-kilobit-per-second rate so-called 3G (for third-generation) mobile-phone networks.
What does Wi-Fi do?
Wi-Fi primarily provides broadband Internet access to specially outfitted PCs and laptops within a few hundred feet of a so-called Wi-Fi base station, or transmitter. These create what in the Wi-Fi vernacular are known as "hot spots" in homes, airport lounges, hotels, or libraries. Businesses are also adding Wi-Fi networks to allow for easy Net access from conference rooms and temporary work stations -- and also to avoid the hefty costs in both time and money of wiring an office.
What are Wi-Fi's advantages?
Wi-Fi's most admirable attributes are that it's fast (to both set up and use) and cheap (under EUR 250 for a small installation). It operates on unlicensed airwave spectrum, so no extra monthly costs on top of the charge for a broadband connection are incurred. It's also easy to install. Most high-end laptops now come ready for Wi-Fi, equipped with a special plug-in circuit card.
What are Wi-Fi's disadvantages?
The lack of marketing muscle behind Wi-Fi can make the industry seem small-time and disorganized. And some concerns include security (wireless LANs can be vulnerable to hacker attacks) and interference (baby monitors and garage-door openers, among other devices, share the same spectrum, which can slow network speeds).
Is Wi-Fi implementation difficult?
Wi-Fi is a no-risk financial decision especially for small businesses or companies in hard-to-wire locations, because of its low cost. Consulting firm Adventis, which spent EUR 32,000 to wire its Boston office last year, says a similar Wi-Fi installation today would cost only EUR 600 ! In the USA, it is estimated that 20% of large companies currently have wireless LANs as an adjunct to their wired networks. By 2003, when the technology will provide even faster Internet access - plus tighter security and less interference - it is believed half of EuropeÕs largest companies will have Wi-Fi.
Would Wi-Fi attract more customers than 3G?
This wireless Web is far different than the one the major network operators envisioned. Until recently, big wireless carriers were spending billions on buying spectrum licenses and building 3G networks that can carry data at high speeds. But 3G connection to the Internet is always open, while Wi-Fi offers faster, cheaper and on-demand Internet connections. Note that Wi-Fi (802.11b technology) is mainly for WLANÕs, whereas 3G was designed for WWANÕs.
Will customers go 3G or Wi-Fi in Europe?
Many operators have announced that they will integrate Wi-Fi technology with their existing network to provide "seamless service", i.e; Internet connection that switches automatically from Wi-Fi to 3G and back. Intel and Microsoft (Windows CE operating systems for PCs and handhelds already come configured for Wi-Fi) are investing a lot in Wi-Fi because they believe that wireless home networking will stimulate demand for all kinds of new mobile computing and consumer products.
What is the wireless Internet vision?
The Wireless Internet is a logical extension of how we use the Internet on a wired network. Wired networks aren't going away, but wireless solutions get us closer to the reality of "anytime, anywhere" access to the Internet or corporate intranets.
This is essential for companies, especially as their employees need to stay connected to business applications in order to remain productive, both within the enterprise and outside. By analyzing the benefits of how wireless technologies boost productivity and lower costs overall, one sees investment payback figures that are amazing. The ability to take advantage of the wealth of information on the Internet - no matter where you are and without the restrictions of a wired connection - is powerful.
What are the differences between IEEE 802.11a and 802.11b?
First, the similarities. Both are part of the IEEE 802.11 standard and provide the benefits of traditional wired LANs without wires -- allowing users to access networks without being tethered by network cables. This enables a wide range of handheld devices, like PDAs, to be connected.
The differences between the two standards are in transmission speed and frequency band. 802.11b, the most widely deployed wireless standard, allows data speeds of 11 megabits per second (Mbps) and operates in an unlicensed radio frequency band around 2.4 GHz. 802.11a operates in two frequency bands around 5.4Ghz, with maximum data speeds of 54 Mbps. The 5.4GHz frequency band assigned to 802.11a offers more channels than those afforded to 802.11b. Furthermore, because 802.11a operates in an uncluttered portion of the radio spectrum, it isn't subject to as much potential interference. However, 802.11a isn't backward compatible with 802.11b, and that presents a challenge for concurrent operation and migration. What's important is that both 802.11a and 802.11b can coexist in the same organization.
What's driving the need for higher-performance WLANs?
There are two primary drivers. The first is bandwidth intensive applications - graphically rich or multimedia applications such as medical imaging and computer-aided design. Denser and larger content is being displayed and stored on larger devices. The second driver for 802.11a is the need for greater data capacity. While 802.11b operates on three channels each at 11 Mbps, 802.11a operates on 12 channels, each at 54Mbps, and offers significantly greater data capacity.
How secure are WLANs?
Properly configured WLANs are extremely secure. An example is the enterprise authentication and security architecture based on the IEEE 802.1x and EAP security standard. This allows enterprises to scale wireless deployments to thousands of users with a standard, centralized security management framework. Furthermore, this authentication architecture is integrated with wireless encryption technologies such that per-user, per-session dynamic encryption keys are downloaded transparently upon the users' standard logins.
Why should customers deploy 802.11a?
Again, the key benefit of 802.11a is in its 54 Mbps performance, which is a fivefold increase over that of 802.11b and which more closely matches the common 100Mbps performance of today's wired Ethernet. This will be of benefit to users of graphics-intensive and multimedia applications. Furthermore, 802.11a also provides the added benefit of operating in a band that is clear of other uses and that has more channels for greater system capacity. Thus, deployments expecting heavy usage would favor 802.11a. Gartner Research indicates that early adopters of 802.11a will be in areas of specialized applications like building-to-building connections, high-worker density, or high-throughput scenarios.
Will Wi-Fi change the way the Internet is used?
Internet technology is more prevalent and the Web itself is now a routine part of everyday life - certainly of business life. Do you know anybody who plans to revert from email to office memo?
Wireless LANs extend that resource to the worker who's not tethered to their desk, making him or her more productive and efficient. WLANs are an emerging sea change in business life and will rival email and cell phones in significance. 802.11b, and its successors like 802.11a, will make the experience better.