Freedom Mobility

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Freedom & Mobility

In the case of wireless local area networks (WLANs), freedom derives from mobility. Mobility comes in two forms. One is itinerancy, which refers to the ability to use computers wherever you happen to stop, and the other is roaming, which is the ability to use computers on the move (or more to the point perhaps, not having to log in each time you move but being able to continue from where you left off). Both can be provided by a WLAN, though, as the reader shall learn, roaming is more complex to provide.

Wi-Fi, with its promise of mobility, opens up an entirely new dimension of user freedom. The cellular phone industry whetted consumers' appetite for mobility, and now this newly-nomadic crowd craves similar mobility (and the ensuing freedom) in all of their communications needs, whether it's voice or data. Wi-Fi is thus the next logical step in the communications evolution, as it gives users freedom to achieve the following:

• Physical mobility while maintaining connectivity in their place of work, home, neighborhood and eventually, the world.

• To grow their network without the necessity of installing new cables and wires.

• To move an office or business without incurring the huge costs normally associated with local area network (LAN) installations.

Once Wi-Fi access points are installed strategically throughout a building, campus, neighborhood, region, or even nationally, users simply insert an wireless network interface card (NIC) into their computer, load software, and voila!-freedom to move about from one location to another with their Wi-Fi-enabled computing device in tow. As long as such suitably equipped users can receive a signal, they can access the Internet. But that's just the beginning of what one can do with Wi-Fi.

In an educational environment, a Wi-Fi network affords students and faculty access not only to the Internet, but also to library resources, class schedules, assignments, and so forth, whether in their dorm room, study room, classroom, or sitting under a tree.

In a corporate WLAN, the user can access the Internet and access all appropriate corporate servers, whether the user is in the office, their boss's office, a conference room or the office cafeteria. In other words, wireless LAN systems can provide end-users access to real-time information anywhere within an organization. This ability to work any place, any time, fosters teamwork. Exchange of data is no longer confined to cabled areas. WLANs promote higher productivity and can help a company provide service opportunities not possible with wired networks.

Consider this: wireless LANs allow users to stay connected to their network for approximately one and three-quarter more hours per day than with a wired LAN. Users equipped with a laptop and a wireless connection can roam their office building without losing their connection, or having to log-in again on a new machine in a different location. This translates to a very real increase in productivity, as much as 22% for the average end-user-at least according to NOP World Technology, a leading technology research firm. That same research firm also found that:

• 63% of respondents report that wireless LAN technology improves the accuracy of everyday tasks-with 51% of healthcare organizations finding significant improvements in accuracy (50% increased accuracy on average). That is crucial, given the life and death implications of improved accuracy at the point of care.

• 87% of respondents believe that a wireless LAN improves their quality of life, taking into account attributes such as increased flexibility, productivity and timesavings-with 43% overall believing that this improvement is significant.

• HotSpot usage is gaining momentum; 60% of respondents are familiar with the concept, with 16% currently accessing the Internet via HotSpots. Among those aware of HotSpots (but not currently using it) a further 54% are interested in taking advantage of the capability.

• On average, 16% of employees within organizations with wireless LANs in place have access to the technology. 56% of the respondents who use the technology use it either constantly or (at a minimum) daily.

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