Carter: Yes and no.
I agree Nomura needs a new analyst! The WLAN we once new is changing. 802.11b is already pout there and Nokia have some nice looking 802.11b access points and PCMCIA cards.
802.11b is designed for the 2.4GHz band, where Bluetooth is also at. The real interesting developments is the globally free 5GHz band, where standards such as HiperLAN2 is designed...offering up to 54Mbps or guaranteed increments up to 36 Mbps. The standards was designed for wireless connectivity in the home (between electronic equipment from fridges, cookers to Hi-Fi, TV and PC), the office (boring wireless Ethernet stuff) and FOR WISPs (which can also be mobile operators). As the spectrum is free and the equipment relatively cheap, there is no problem in rolling out these networks in high-density and high use areas (from down town business parks, to hotels, airports, conference centres etc.). HiperLAN2 is currently under design to inter-operate with 3G (UMTS), so when surfing on the move you get an okay bit rate 100+kbps (don't believe the hype of Mbps in a 3G environment just yet), but when you need true multi-media or downloading massive files you can park up at a "hotspot" and download away. Certainly to start, very much a business application.
Anyway, 802.11b WISPs exist today...not much heard about them, but the noise is getting louder. The problem is 802.11a and HiperLAN2 (both true wireless broadband access with handoff) are due next year.
Makes no difference, Nokia are also members of the HiperLAN2 Global Forum.
As for today, here are piccies of Nokia's WLAN products:
nokia.com |
