Whether you know it or not, the 802.11n wireless protocol is coming to a network near you, and it's already generating a large amount of buzz across all vertical markets - even before it completes the ratification process. The reason? Devices and networks that incorporate the new standard will eliminate what Manav Khurana, head of industry marketing with Aruba Networks, calls the "mobility tax." That is, users working wirelessly came
to accept lower speeds and less reliability than they could get with their wired equipment.
As a result, wireless connections were seen as an addition to, and not a replacement for, wired networks. "Now, that equation begins to change," Khurana notes. "802.11n will change the way people look at wireless solutions."
802.11n is major upgrade in physical layer throughput, with a theoretical peak of about 600 megabits per second, says Amit Sinha, Ph.D., and fellow and chief technologist with Motorola Enterprise WLAN. While the practical limit of 802.11n is about 100 megabits per second, that's still 10 times previous limits, and similar to the speed of wired networks, he adds.
To achieve this, 802.11n incorporates what is known as MIMO, or multiple input/multiple output technology. That means it relies on multiple transmit and receive antennas, rather than a single one. This boosts bandwidth, resulting in greater throughput and better coverage, as it's possible to combine signals to avoid areas of fading or poor coverage, says Bryan Bayges, director of mobility solutions with Westcon Group North America.
In contrast, older access points simply blast coverage throughout an area, says Chris Roeckl, vice president of marketing with AirMagnet. Access points that use 802.11n enable "beam forming." So, if you need coverage down a long hallway, you can shape the signal to get it, rather than waste coverage where you don't need it. Moreover, the larger bandwidth boosts reliability, making feasible the addition of voice traffic to a network, he adds.
The larger number of antennas with 802.11n also boosts the devices' range. While 802.11g offers a range of about 300 feet, 802.11n devices should work within about 600 feet, says Stan Schatt, vice president of research at ABI.
What's more, the technical advances inherent in 802.11n impact the bottom line. The jump to 100-plus megabits per second means 802.11n wireless networks can accommodate larger files and more users, reducing the need for costly wired networks. "There's an inherent financial benefit in using wireless technology," says Roeckl. Employee productivity jumps, while some costs required to support a wired network, such as the expenses associated with physical moves and changes, drops.
To be sure, 802.11n products currently command a price premium of up to about 60 percent when compared to wireless 802.11a/b/g equipment, says Khurana of Aruba Networks. Offsetting this is the fact that 802.11n access points can handle more users than the ones that use older standards, reducing the number that's needed. Moreover, the price difference is steadily diminishing.
It's important to note that the 802.11n standard has yet to receive final approval from IEEE (Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers), the standard-setting organization, although it's expected in 2009. And, the IEEE board has already indicated that any differences between the draft and final versions of 802.11n will be fairly minor, says Frank Terence, category manager with Ingram Micro U.S. As a result, vendors have begun marketing products that incorporate the current standard.
Capturing Interest and Growth
As a result, a growing number of users appear to be interested. "We've seen the early adopters move forward," with 802.11n networks and devices, says Roeckl. Accuvant, a Denver-based information security solutions provider, is among those that are capturing some of the interest. "We're definitely seeing a need for 802.11n," says Matt Bossom, director of wireless solutions. Interest is particularly strong among firms whose applications will quickly generate returns by reducing the amount of cabling and support, and the number of access points needed to build a communications network, he adds. He estimates that Accuvant will double its 802.11n sales between 2008 and 2009, jumping from 10 to 15 percent of its wireless business to 20 to 30 percent next year.
Accuvant's growth appears similar to that of the broader market. Equipment that is 802.11n-enabled accounted for 15 to 20 percent of Wi-Fi shipments in 2008, estimates Schatt of ABI. That number is rising each quarter, he adds.
"Even in this environment, most customers are thinking of the future," notes Terence of Ingram Micro. When replacing or upgrading equipment, they're choosing more technically advanced products that are likely to remain technically viable for a long time. And, since 802.11n is backward compatible, they can introduce it over time.
The consumer world also is driving the shift to 802.11n, Terence adds. Many homes currently have wireless networks, and those homeowners get used to working without the hassle of cables. They increasingly expect wireless freedom on the job, as well. "Consumers appetite and taste for technology will transcend to the commercial market," he notes.
Several verticals appear particularly primed for 802.11n. One is education, particularly at the college and university level. "You have a lot of very dense deployments, where you have 500 students in a lecture hall who all want Wi-Fi access at the same time," Schatt notes. 802.11n is the most effective way to meet this demand.
Another promising vertical is health care, given its roving work force, says Terence of Ingram Micro. In addition, 802.11n facilitates the transmission of large files, such as X-rays and other images. It also offers greater capabilities for voice transmission and video conferencing, he adds.
Managers of warehouses and distribution centers, who often struggled with poor wireless connections due to interference, should find 802.11n a boon. Its MIMO technology reduces interference, Schatt notes. And while both the real estate and financial sectors currently are taking the brunt of the upheaval in the overall economy, they're also likely candidates for 802.11n as their industries recover.
Another application that can benefit from 802.11n is IP video surveillance, Bayges says. Previous versions of 802.11 didn't offer the image quality required for surveillance cameras. That changes with 802.11n, making video surveillance "one of the booming mobility applications."
A Mad Rush...or Not?
This isn't to suggest that all organizations are rushing to implement 802.11n, particularly if they don't yet need additional capacity, says Jeff Kunst, vice president of marketing with MobileAccess. Today's economy is prompting companies to limit investments to those that can quickly show solid returns. However, as customers plan and design new buildings, they're looking at 802.11n. As a result, he sees interest building for 2009 and later.
Organizations in sectors that have been particularly hit hard by the economy are postponing any projects that are not mission critical, says John Chis, senior vice president with DecisionPoint Systems, a provider of mobile solutions. Many are trying to hold on as banks have chopped credit lines - and that means their own as well as their customers.' "Money is tight across the board," he says.
Paul Civils, senior vice president and general manager for retail solutions with Agilysys, Inc. predicts that it will be mid-2010 before customers really take hold of the new standard. "It's good to talk about, but we haven't had customers say that they need it."
Moreover, not all companies are interested in being early adopters, notes Kunst of Mobile Access. Some are concerned that the standard still is in draft form, and don't want to invest in a standard that could change. While it appears that the risk of significant changes is slight, and the final 802.11n should be compatible with previous versions, companies that would be doing a large-scale deployment might decide to sit tight.
Getting Up to Speed
While some customers are taking a "wait-and-see" approach, resellers still need to get up to speed with 802.11n. "If you're selling Wi-Fi, you'll be selling 802.11n," Schatt says. "It will be a dominant share of the market within the next year."
That means resellers need to understand the technology, so that when customers are ready to make the leap, they can support them. As a starting point, resellers will need to manage customers' perceptions of 802.11n, says Khurana of Aruba Networks. One commonly held misconception is that companies need 802.11n clients to take advantage of an 11n infrastructure. Although having both 802.11n clients and network boosts performance, organizations still can implement an 802.11n network, and then move client devices over in phases.
Also, potential customers may not realize how 802.11n has improved. Earlier versions often required significant power upgrades or monstrously sized access points, Khurana notes. Today, it's more likely that the products can work with existing networks and power sources, although this should be verified before an implementation gets under way.
As customers learn more about 802.11n, and compare it to the current versions of 802.11a/b/g, they'll have a greater appreciation for its potential impact, and as Schatt of Accuvant notes: "802.11n holds the promise for the true wireless enterprise."
Whether you know it or not, the 802.11n wireless protocol is coming to a network near you, and it's already generating a large amount of buzz across all vertical markets - even before it completes the ratification process. The reason? Devices and networks that incorporate the new standard will eliminate what Manav Khurana, head of industry marketing with 
