Wireless Data Research Expects Deskbound Industries Will Continue to Avoid Wi-Fi, even with Security and Management Improvements

SAN MATEO, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Jan. 12, 2004--

Mobile Applications to grow Enterprise WLANs to $1.7 billion by 2008

“Companies that claim they are waiting for security to be strengthened typically do not need Wi-Fi regardless of what authentication or encryption tools it uses, because their IT environments are dominated by desktop PCs”

According to a new research study conducted by Wireless Data Research, the ever-increasing number of roaming workers will continue to drive the growth of corporate WLANs. However, over-analysis of .a/.b/.g developments and security standards has obscured the importance of the mobility applications that will push the market's expansion. The majority of clients on corporate WLANs will continue to be laptops, PDAs, or phones. Desktops will largely stick to Ethernet LANs. But as more work gets done while not at work, more industries will reconsider their 802.11 deployment plans. Consider that :

-- If security has been so inadequate, why have so many health providers embraced WLANs?

-- Most clients in university Wi-Fi networks are laptops, while handhelds dominate in warehouses, how will this impact future APs and switches?

-- Some colleges have one AP for every 15 students, others have one per 100 students, why such a large discrepancy?

-- If there are too many 802.11 companies, why do some startups have over 100 customers?

-- Education, Health Care, and Logistics have accounted for the majority of 802.11 revenues outside the home, but how far will their share of the Wi-Fi market drop?

"Companies that claim they are waiting for security to be strengthened typically do not need Wi-Fi regardless of what authentication or encryption tools it uses, because their IT environments are dominated by desktop PCs," said David Gross, author of the study. "Wireless equipment vendors' attempts to promote the productivity benefits of checking e-mail in a conference room or a hallway just make IT managers laugh. In a range of applications, from patient record keeping to inventory management, WLAN deployments will continue to depend on portable activities tied to revenue, not incremental expense savings. Just as many cell phone users have embraced the British term "mobile phone", perhaps it is time to stop calling them Wireless LANs, and refer to these networks as Mobile LANs instead."

The report titled Enterprise Wi-Fi 2004,- WLAN Switch Vendors Taking Alternate Routes to "Secure" Vertical Market Revenues, includes a competitive analysis of the major WLAN vendors, a discussion of market opportunities, and five-year forecasts for access points, switches, gateways, and controllers - all broken down by industry and region.

Enterprise Wi-Fi 2004 is available for digital download at the WDR web site at www.wirelessdataresearch.com.

Press and sales contact: Chip Manuel at [phone].

About Wireless Data Research

Wireless Data Research is an independent research and consulting firm dedicated to examining the business applications of wireless technology. Our customers, including investors, technology vendors, and end users, rely on WDR for unbiased opinions and advice about the practical applications and total costs of ownership for wireless IT. WDR supports customers around the world and across the spectrum of technologies and industries.