We’re using some new acronyms (like the industry doesn’t have enough already) to define four key classes of wireless LAN. The question: will the categories remain distinct?
As I noted last time, since I’ve had to type “enterprise class wireless LAN system” about a million times over the years, we’re now using the acronym EWLS for enterprise WLAN system. These are characterized by the ability to meet any enterprise objective across any landscape and on any scale. EWLSes are targeted at organizations with more than 1,000 users and offer such capabilities as remote APs (branch offices, residential drops, etc.), the inclusion of at least some assurance functions (although the standalone WLAN assurance system, or WLAS, will be around for the foreseeable future), and elaborate management and integration capabilities. There is also a huge market for residential WLAN systems (RWLS), and, while the basics are the same, the scope of function here is significantly less than with an EWLS – minimal if any scalability, no advanced features like spectral analysis, and packaging as a wireless router, rather than as just an AP. Still, a RWLS could meet the needs of small businesses that don’t mind a high degree of compromise in business-oriented functionality. And, of course, residential WLANs form the backbone of many home-entertainment and other home-automation applications; more on this after next month’s CEDIA show in Indianapolis.
And there are two more categories that we’ll use from now on. The first is the midmarket wireless LAN system (MWLS), which includes essentially all of the functions of an EWLS but with a bit less scalability, a greater emphasis on cost, and easier-to-use management consoles. And the second is a carrier-class wireless LAN system (CWLS), which is going to take on a major role as Wi-Fi offload becomes the only reasonable alternative in provisioning wireless services of any form in high-demand, high-population-density venues. I’ll have more on both of these as well shortly.
So – the question for the moment: given the degree of functional and technological overlap and crossover that today exists between these segments, will these categories remain distinct, or will they overlap even further or even converge? What’s next for differentiation? Do wireless LANs finally commoditize, and thus finally bring about a market consolidation? There’s a lot to consider here, and we will continue to do so.
And something funny to end on today: did you see the recent movie, Contagion? While I’m sure the portrayal of the scenario presented, from both the scientific and sociological perspectives, contained a good deal of realism, I found the story mostly uninteresting despite a fine cast; I suggest you see Outbreak instead if this kind of plotline is your cup of tea. But there was one good line in Contagion, though, from Elliot Gould’s character, Dr. Sussman: “Blogging is not writing. It is graffiti with punctuation.”
