Planes, Airports And Enterprises: Cisco Pushes Wireless Networking
BY KRISTY BASSUENER
MAY 18, 2001
Following yesterday's wireless splash by rival Intel, Cisco Systems late Thursday
outlined its agenda for taking advantage of mobile technology. The computing
behemoth on Thursday announced its strategy for its 'wireless networking kits'
for laptop computer users to connect to Internet and corporate information while
on the go. The kit includes PC cards including mobile access points and
transmitters that connect with infrastructure built in to a fixed location.
Cisco executives Thursday said the company would continue branching out
beyond traditional adopters of the 802.11b or so-called Wi-Fi networking gear --
namely colleges and businesses -- and also focus on airports and public
restaurants. The company could use satellites to keep airline passengers
connected, according to Cisco. Eventually, Cisco will take advantage of the
much-faster 802.11a wireless networking standard, which enables a maximum
data rate of 54 Mbps on the 5 GHz band.
'It's really liberating to have wireless as an option in so many different situations
now,' says Charlie Giancarlo, Cisco's senior vice president, in a statement. 'The
flexibility and cost-savings that wireless offers are other reasons for its rapid
growth.'
Cisco is aiming for at least 40 percent of the market in the future. Cahners
In-Stat Group, owned by the same parent company as Wireless Week, predicts
the mobile networking sector will weather the current market slowdown, growing
revenues to $4.6 billion by 2005, compared with $1.2 billion last year.
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