| Technology
Wi-Fi
is the Next Generation...and Business Can’t Embrace It Fast
Enough
By Paul Ziek
The budding success of Wi-Fi is testament to our willingness to
adopt new technologies. More importantly, it is an indication that
wireless is the next generation of computer-mediated communication.
Media coverage is abundant and the buzz is almost tangible. The
move toward wireless communication has been evident since the explosion
of cellular service in the mid-1990s. Although cellular communication
has grown enormously and still continues to grow at an astounding
rate, the introduction of more computer-oriented wireless technologies,
such as wireless fidelity (Wi-Fi), will radically change the landscape
of communications and interaction.
We have brought Wi-Fi into our homes and businesses, and the technology
sector has responded with exuberance by increasing research and
development. In addition to developing enhanced enterprise applications
and equipment, manufacturers are working on applications for consumer
electronics such as TVs and DVD players. The entire technology sector
has seen a tremendous rebound, spurring Business Week to give the
hardware sector a growth prospect of B+ and the chip sector a growth
prospect of A for the upcoming year. This is mostly due to Wi-Fi’s
grass roots popularity. In-Stat/MDR further states that Wi-Fi hardware
sales grew 140% in 2003 and the Yankee Group claims that 40% of
small companies will increase IT spending in 2004. This revival
and renewed confidence in technology is sure to stimulate more investment
in the hardware and backbone of WLANs.
Still, some wiring is required
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Although the amount of wiring is significantly less than
contemporary networking, a WLAN does, ironically, require
some hardwiring. Wi-Fi connects computers and networks through
radio signals IEEE (Institute of Electrical and Electronics
Engineers) 802.11. Computers and handheld devices equipped
with Wi-Fi radios (Wi-Fi NIC or PC Card) communicate with
a gateway. The gateway or access point acts as the base station
for the network and is connected directly to an Ethernet network
or the Internet. A node or hot spot constitutes the coverage
area and there are two types: public and private.
At the moment, Wi-Fi’s largest customer base is the
on-the-go-professional. This is due to the recent implementation
of thousands of public hot spots all over the country. By
2006, IDG estimates that over 50,000 public hot spots will
be deployed. In fact, T-Mobile has spent over $200 million
to install hot spots in over 2000 Starbucks; Verizon plans
to build 1000 hot spots in NYC using the existing pay phone
infrastructure and SBC plans to do so in the south, setting
up 3,000 hot spots.
However, the often-overlooked positives associated with
corporate deployment (versus public) of Wi-Fi are colossal.
Wi-Fi has the ability to allow organizations to connect both
public and open areas to an existing network. |
Therefore, previously out-of-reach areas such as the cafeteria,
meeting rooms, industrial or storage areas are now available
for conference calls, video conferencing, database queries
or flat file usage. General Motors, CareGroup, UPS and Allsteel
are just a few of the companies that have implemented their
own wireless network and are taking advantage of the benefits.
Engineers have been developing and refining 802.11 for years
and, presently, there are several frequencies. To ensure the
validity and interoperability of 802.11, non-profit institutions
such as the Wi-Fi alliance have begun testing and certifying
equipment that will work together. Since its inception in
1999, the Wi-Fi Alliance has qualified hundreds of products
as interoperable from such companies as Belkin, D-Link, Intel,
IBM, 3Com, Apple, AT&T and Cisco.
The Wi-Fi Alliance is also integral to securing Wi-Fi, a
topic of interest among the masses. Currently, there is a
perception that Wi-Fi is not a secure avenue for data transmission.
Yet, in addition to existing security standards, such as WEP,
the Wi-Fi Alliance is developing new standards as well as
ratifying new procedures and frequencies that are secured
through automatic cycling encryption codes. |
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Supplying the market
The preparation for supplying this emerging market has already
begun and, as was previously stated, dozens of companies have become
involved in Wi-Fi. All of them need to apply funds to R&D and
sales and marketing. Witness the following: Cometa Networks, a premier
Wi-Fi provider, is a partnership between Intel, IBM and AT&T.
Cingular has partnered with Wayport, a company committed to implementing
public hot spots. Palm released the Tungsten, Sony released the
Clie and HP released the iPaq—all Wi-Fi capable handheld devices.
Intel introduced yet another Centrino chip that is less expensive
than its predecessors.
For many, it is surprising that the Wi-Fi market is so large; however,
the true surprise is the projected intensification. According to
Insight Research, Wi-Fi equipment and services are expected to grow
from $7 billion in 2003 to $44 billion by 2008.
Wireless as a new standard
Wi-Fi will undoubtedly change business communications, as WLAN
connectivity is designed to compensate for lost computer time. People
are no longer bound by hardwired CPUs and therefore will have network,
email and Internet access from anywhere. The ability to dissolve
space issues associated with contemporary computer-mediated communications
will enable the application of wireless technologies as a communication
benchmark. The widespread reliance of email proves that enhancing
relationships and information exchange with technological innovations
has become a business standard. In fact, according to a study performed
by the Meta Group, 74% of executives say email is even more vital
to their business than the telephone.
There are a plethora of wireless technologies that are on the cusp
of a consumer and corporate breakthrough. All of which will have
tremendous impact on the way we do business. Examples range from
Wi-Fi, WiMax and Bluetooth to 3G, SMS, MMS and Microsoft’s
SPOT initiative. Among the host of changes that these technologies
will stimulate, the facility professional must truly hold the knowledge
of their impact and operation. It is better to be the FM who embraces
and can explain this technology revolution to executive management
before a vendor does so.
The
Wi-Fi Alliance Internet site answers many questions from how
to design your Wi-Fi network to how to secure it to implementing
advanced Wi-Fi. The following is an example of help offered
on the Wi-Fi Web site, www.wi-fi.org
Setting Up a Wireless Network
Once you’ve decided to free yourself by “going
wireless,” you can reap all the benefits of mobile computing—and
it’s simple and easy to set up and operate a wireless
network. Here’s how to plan for, install and operate
your Wi-Fi® network:
What Makes Up a Wireless Network?
Do I Need a Peer-To-Peer Network, or One with a Base Station
(An Access Point Or Gateway)?
What Are the Wi-Fi Radio Options For My Laptops, Desktops
and PDAs?
Planning for Access Points and Gateways
How Many Users Can Use a Single Access Point?
Choosing Components for Your Network
Count The Total Number of Users and Computers
Place a Wi-Fi Radio In Each Computer
Determine the Number Of Base Stations (Access Points or Gateways)
You Need
How Do You Connect Your Wi-Fi Network to the Internet?
How Do You Make Printers Work on Your Wi-Fi Network?
Can You Share Devices on Your Network to Save Money? |
Metric: 80% of U.S. enterprises to have WLANs by 2008
According to a study from InfoTech, 80 percent of U.S. enterprises
will have a WLAN network system by 2008. This growth will
represent a $5.9 billion market. Seventy-five percent of U.S.
businesses have some kind of WLAN deployment, with most only
affecting around 10 percent of their workforces. The study
predicts that WLAN penetration will remain narrow until newer
applications, like Voice over WLAN (VoWLAN), prompt businesses
to deploy WiFi across all their units. The study also predicts
that in-building mobile business users using multiple wireless
technologies (i.e., cellular, WiFi, Ultrawideband, Bluetooth)
will rise from 14.8 million in 2003 to 30.8 million in 2008.
Forty percent of the mobile workforce will use multiple wireless
standards as a part of their work routine by 2008. (infotech.com)
Sourced from FierceWireless; www.fiercewireless.com |
Paul Ziek, Project Management Professional, is a project
manager for Savant Services Corporation, a New York-based project
management and advisory firm. He has led the implementation of numerous
corporate relocations, reorganizations and facility designs. Visit
www.savantservices.com
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