For those of you who missed the introduction of the Wi-Fi (Wired Fidelity) concept, you may wonder what it is and what exactly all the hype is about.
Wi-Fi is essentially an extremely portable technology that allows users, with the appropriate hardware, to access networks without the restriction of cables and wires. It works by communicating on WLANS (Wireless Local Area Networks) to connect to other computers, the internet or various other wired networks. It even allows a user visiting a typical Wi-Fi Hot-Spot such as the local coffee shop to print information from their laptop, PDA or other handheld on the store?s printer!
Although the technology is targeted at enterprise business people, it is also increasingly suitable for SOHO (Small Office, Home Office) clients, providing fast speeds and amazing accessibility never before imagined possible after the introduction of Broadband, ADSL and the 3G network.
Wi-Fi is also identified with the number 802.11. It indicates whether a Wi-Fi product has been verified as operational, and is usually followed with a letter of the alphabet, indicating which data stream to which it belongs. Three streams exist ? a, b and g (802.11a, 802.11b, 802.11g). This can sometimes become rather confusing for the average consumer, as each stream produces good and bad (and sometimes both) effects on the chosen Wi-Fi device. Wi-Fi devices function by communicating to a hub (an Access Point) and it transmits the information to a Wi-Fi enabled network. These Access Points currently have a range of up to 300ft and allow for roaming (Bluetooth allows for up to 30ft).
802.11 was created by the Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers (IEEE) to ensure that there was an industry standard for the Wi-Fi watchdogs, the Wi-Fi Alliance to monitor. The Wi-Fi Alliance are a non-profit organisation overseeing who is allowed to produce the technology, and what products reach the marketplace based on the IEEE?s 802.11 specification standard.
The original 802.11 WLAN devices operated at slow speeds of 1 & 2 Mbps. They paved the way for today?s popular devices utilising the 802.11b stream operating at speeds of 11 Mbps (20 times faster than ADSL) or 802.11a and g with the data transfer rate of 54 Mbps.
The 802.11b stream is notorious for reducing a full battery to a negative charge in a short period of time. This is largely due to the marketplace forgetting that most Wi-Fi products are battery operated, and can not hold charge for the desired duration. Also problematic for 802.11b is the fact that it only operates on three channels within the 2.4GHz band, increasing the chance that Wi-Fi devices may intercept one another.
The 802.11a band offers more channels (usually 8) on the roomy 5.2GHz band and 802.11g functions on the same band as 802.11b, but with increased amounts of data. Sound Confusing? Well the industry is also contemplating introducing a 802.11e whilst considering the implications of ultra wideband (UWB)!
As with any new technology, Wi-Fi has problems. Although the positives far outweigh the negatives, they must be considered when contemplating the switch to Wi-Fi. A considerable negative is its security problems with 802.11. Due to Wi-Fi operating across radio waves of 2.4GHz (the same bands used by ambulances, police and baby monitors etc); transmissions are easily intercepted and accessed by hackers, illustrating flaws in Wi-Fi protection software. These include; Media Access Control (MAC) Secure Socket Layer (SSL) and Wi-Fi?s encryption software, Wired Equivalent Privacy (WEP).
WEP?s 40-bit encryption software is mandatory with all 802.11 WLAN technologies and is generally suitable for SOHO clients, offering single static key level security. Its downfall is that the key can only be manually changed by an operator at the WLAN. Users can increase their level of security by manually enabling 64-bit or 128-bit WEP security on their devices, or by accessing Virtual Private Networks (VPNs) or Remote Access Dial in User Service (RADIUS).
VPNs create tunnel-like security, disabling all forms of access from unauthorised devices. It works by creating a unique encryption scheme for data transfer to other computers, laptops etc, at the company?s main server. This unique encryption code becomes the language in which the two Wi-Fi devices communicate, creating an almost impenetrable barrier. The other above mentioned security measure, RADIUS, protects access to the network using a user name and password scheme, and is standard across corporate America.
As a standard, the 802.11b stream uses a MAC number as a mandatory security device. This number becomes an authorisation-like code on the network, and is set up manually by the device operators.
Security is a major concern for the Wi-Fi industry. Standards and software are constantly being created and updated and continually redeveloped.
The Wi-Fi Alliance are currently creating a new industry standard for security, and have named them 802.11i and 802.11X. They will be utilising Advanced Encryption Standards (AES) and Temporal Key Integrity Protocols (TKIP) and secure key-distribution methods. Unfortunately, these soon-to-be security standards will be problematic for the Wi-Fi industry. They will make current marketplace devices incompatible and will render VPNs obsolete. Which poses the question, should the Wi-Fi industry be delayed until the future of Wi-Fi is absolutely certain?
If its current success and acceptance in the global community is a reflection of its future, a delay is out of the question. New companies are created everyday to provide adequate services to providing the global market with Wi-Fi Hot-Spots, devices and new technologies. One company involved in Hot-Spot development, SBC Communications, is boasting plans to set up 20,000 more locations by 2006. With other companies producing similar projections, and software giants like Microsoft and all those wonderful companies in Silicon Valley incorporating Wi-Fi into their new programming, the future for Wi-Fi looks promising, regardless of the downfalls of its current infancy.
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