Small is beautiful for Wi-Fi

Wi-Fi must move away from the laptop and onto smaller devices, according to industry experts.

While the bulk of Wi-Fi users currently connect using laptops, smaller and more mobile devices are needed for everyday use. This would include PDAs, phones and location-based devices.

"Getting Wi-Fi onto smaller and smaller devices is vital," said Andrew Allison, head of Intel's mobility group in the UK.

"So too is the ability to switch between networks on the fly. By 2010 we will see huge numbers of Wi-Fi enabled mobile devices out there, all working seamlessly with each other."

Wi-Fi is increasingly being built into PDAs as standard and BT has confirmed that it will be introducing a combination Wi-Fi/GSM phone by Christmas.

"This is a massive focus for BT," said the telco's chief executive for wireless broadband Chris Clark.

"People do not take their laptops out with them everyday but plenty carry their PDAs and other mobile devices. It is important if Wi-Fi is to gain mass market acceptance."

Clark explained that increasing numbers of Wi-Fi devices might cause problems initially because of signal clutter, but that there are technical fixes for such a situation.

See also:

Employees driving Wi-Fi adoption

Networks at serious risk as staff take matters into their own hands  21 Apr 2005

BT welcomes free Wi-Fi hotspots

Not stepping on our toes, says BT wireless broadband chief  21 Apr 2005

US researchers turbocharge Wi-Fi roaming

SyncScan technology promises dramatic increase in 802.11 access speeds  14 Apr 2005

Security fears fail to hold back Wi-Fi

Wireless Lans to triple in five years, reports analyst  03 Mar 2005

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