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Wireless LAN Equipment Shipments Up

MrBounce writes "Worldwide shipments of wireless local-area network equipment increased by 120 percent in 2002 from a year ago. So who are the current market leaders in this field?"

30 of 185 comments (clear)

  1. So? by mrklin · · Score: 3, Funny

    Worldwide population is also up in 2003 and we don't want to know who the most prolific producer is either.

  2. Wireless by ikkonoishi · · Score: 4, Funny

    I wonder if the IP over avian carrier rfc would be included as a wireless protocol.

    1. Re:Wireless by ikkonoishi · · Score: 4, Funny

      Well... Maybe not pidgeons, Swallows though... What is the bandwidth of an unladen african swallow?

  3. Security? by Jucius+Maximus · · Score: 5, Insightful
    So what percent of them have WEP disabled and SSID-broadcast enabled by default? Can I now wardrive to find 120% more open APs? Ironically, Microsoft branded routers are some of the few that do have WEP enabled out of the box.

    But these shipment numbers made sense. I bought both a wireless router and AirPort card for my iBook this year.

    1. Re:Security? by thegameiam · · Score: 4, Interesting

      it's funny - there are two approaches to Wireless:

      1) try to create wired-equivalent security, with WEP, et. al.
      This usually results in "security" which can be cracked by a persistent teenager in a car in under about 20 minutes.

      2) leave everything "open" and make sure that all security is host/application based. Treat the network as "untrusted"
      Personally, this is where I stand: I think that it works better, and people don't get any unrealistic impressions about the security of their connections.

      So I run a WISP which is built upon the latter model, in Washington DC. If someone wardrives and snoops some internet for an hour, fine! pleas don't attack the network itself, but feel free to surf the web :)

      -David Barak

      --
      Need Geek Rock? Try The Franchise!
    2. Re:Security? by mhore · · Score: 3, Interesting
      So what percent of them have WEP disabled and SSID-broadcast enabled by default? Can I now wardrive to find 120% more open APs? Ironically, Microsoft branded routers are some of the few that do have WEP enabled out of the box.

      This is something I've been wondering ... I just don't know the answer. At home, I enabled WEP and disabled SSID-broadcast. I don't have much faith in WEP, but it's better than nothing, right? Anyway, with SSID-broadcast off, is my WLAN essentially invisible? Or could somebody "see" the packets still, and know something was there?

      Mike.

      --

      Mmmm......sacrelicious.

    3. Re:Security? by pantherace · · Score: 5, Informative

      Disabling SSID essentially only means that 100% listeners can't see it if someone isn't using it. However if someone is, then they can. SSID and WEP really have some big security holes. IPsec is very good compared to it. For SSID, if someone sees you (re)connect once it's lost, and can lead to breaking wep quite easily.

    4. Re:Security? by thegameiam · · Score: 3, Insightful

      But why? the added overhead and trouble involved in WEP and no-broadcast SSID would make a casual user think that it's "safe" and therefore would be more likely to transmit private data over the network than having it wide-open will.

      When a user signs on, all they have to do is install a card, and they're up. They understand that snoopers are out there, and that they will try to swipe their data.

      Do you really think that WEP would add anything at all? c'mon, really?

      Regarding Godel, he was a mathmatician who showed how any formal system must be either incomplete or inconsistent. Thus the A and Not-A comment. My assertion is that you can either secure the wireless portion or not. "securing" the wireless portion makes users think that they're getting something, which is not the case.

      -David Barak

      --
      Need Geek Rock? Try The Franchise!
  4. Rhyming headlines by donutz · · Score: 3, Funny

    Equipment Shipments?

    What other rhyming headlines can we expect?

    Stouter Routers available soon
    Software Can Plan your WLAN
    Take a look at this notebook?

    Name your suggestions!

  5. Details here .. by vivek7006 · · Score: 4, Funny

    "Worldwide shipments of wireless local-area network equipment increased by 120 percent in 2002 from a year ago."

    RIAA has attributed this increase to an increasing sharing of music by *thieves* on the internet. SCO is claiming that the increase in the sale of wireless LAN equipment is primarily due to linux. Ans since linux has SCO's IP, SCO is planning to sue all the manufactures of wireless LAN.

  6. Innovators pay the price of leadership by BWJones · · Score: 5, Interesting

    Boy, given that Apple was shipping wireless on their computers back in 1999, it is interesting to see that they don't seem to be represented here. It could be due to a small market share I suppose, but Apple has paid the price for leadership again and again by innovating and then everyone else jumping on board.

    --
    Visit Jonesblog and say hello.
  7. have a look at Nortel by SubtleNuance · · Score: 5, Informative

    Nortel has some really good product: here, their VOIP handsets/desktop phones and software-based-voip-phones are *very* cool... coupled with a 802.11x AP, it is VERY COOL. Ipaq + 802.11x CF Nic + Nortel Software == wirless phone in your office.

  8. In related news.... by bflong · · Score: 5, Funny

    In related news, Pringles shipments were up by %110.

    --
    Why is it so hot? Where am I going? What am I doing in this handbasket?
  9. Meanwhile... by macshune · · Score: 3, Funny

    Scientists are still trying to figure out how businesses can make money from selling access wi-fi networks.

  10. The Future of Wireless by eniacx · · Score: 3, Interesting

    If you don't know what a Mesh Network is, you should read up on it. There are some very cool applications.

    You can fly in a helicopter at 300 mph+ and sustain an Internet Connection.
    City governments are also using this technology to deploy cameras around their cities.

    Any kind of technology is always scary when government gets ahold of it. However, I still have some questions about it's security though.

    http://www.meshnetworks.com

  11. And This Is Important Because... by Nom+du+Keyboard · · Score: 3, Funny
    And this is important to get posted to Slashdot because...?

    a) It's a nice break from SCO stupidity and bashing
    b) It's a nice break from Microsoft stupidity and bashing
    c) There was still a site in the world that hadn't been Slashdotted yet
    d) None of the above
    e) All of the above

    --
    "It's the height of ridiculousness to say for those 9 lines you get hundreds of millions."
  12. Interference by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 3, Insightful

    A fellow grad student and I got talking about this at our university's wireless lab ...

    Most current wireless scheme assume sparse usage concentrations. As more and more people start using these devices, interference will increase markedly and reduce performance for all. Just think what would happen if every single person in your appartment or neighbourhood had a wireless network setup? We would see a 15-50% degradation in wireless bandwidth!

    Not to mention other devices operating in the 2.4Ghz unregulated spectrum like microwave ovens and those damn cordless phones!

  13. Scary... by clausiam · · Score: 5, Funny

    I just finished placing my online order for various Linksys Wireless equipment, then surf over to /. and the top story is "Wireless LAN Equipment Shipments Up...top vendor is Linksys". Man, those internet tracking and market analysis systems are getting too advanced now... :-)

  14. Re:slashdotted by Mysticalfruit · · Score: 3, Funny

    Would you really want a cheap whore? It's kinda like buying a high milage cheap car... there's no telling what you'll find under the seat... nevermind the gas tank or the tailpipe!

    --
    Yes Francis, the world has gone crazy.
  15. long distance wireless - much greater than 300 ft by leoaugust · · Score: 5, Informative

    This is probably a good time to create a current review of the long distance (>> 300 ft) Wireless solutions that are available in the market.

    Richochet is one http://www.ricochet.com/

    and another is Vivato http://www.vivato.net/

    What are the other ones in the market?

    --
    To see a world in a grain of sand, and then to step back and see the beach where the sand lies ...
  16. Not too hard to believe ... by SuperDuG · · Score: 4, Insightful
    I know a two years ago that wireless was "too slow" and had "too many bottlenecks" and was "too insecure".

    Well in the last few years two out of the three major issues with wireless have been fixed. Plus now there's more widespread applications for wireless technology is amazing. Cause everything to communicate without drilling holes and running wires and it's all portable.

    Wireless (especially 802.11b) is in major universities, businesses, and homes all across america. It's "the new craze" get broadband and a wireless router along with a laptop and surf the net while outside, in your room, or wherever.

    For what people need networking for wireless usually is it 9 times out of 10 and it is far more acceptable and eye appealing than drilling holes and running wire everywhere. Plus it's cool to have a laptop with no wires surfin the net, still has a cool "wow" factor.

    --
    Ignore the "p2p is theft" trolls, they're just uninformed
  17. So really... by afidel · · Score: 3, Interesting

    Cisco is 28% of wireless lan revenue since they own Linsys now =) I find it interesting what this says about the overall market, Cisco/Aironet which is the large enterprise leader slipped behind Linksys in revenue even though the typical Cisco/Aironet product costs ~8X what the typical Linksys product does, so small companies and consumers must be outbuying enterprises by around 8X =)

    --
    There are 4 boxes to use in the defense of liberty: soap, ballot, jury, ammo. Use in that order. Starting now.
  18. Re:In other news..... by GreyPoopon · · Score: 4, Insightful
    WHY IS THIS NEWSWORTHY??

    Because in an economy where technology has been struggling until recently, it's nice to see increased demand and spending for something, even if it was widely expected. Plus, seeing Linksys rise to the top was a bit interesting, as well as the blurb on Cisco buying Linksys. Also, I appreciated the list of other "top" vendors, as it gives me some to compare in the coming months. And finally, everybody was complaining about the hourly SCO updates. /. editors had to put something else in. :-)

    --

    GreyPoopon
    --
    Why is it I can write insightful comments but can't come up with a clever signature?

  19. Apple is just too small a player in wireless by sjbe · · Score: 4, Informative

    It could be due to a small market share I suppose, but Apple has paid the price for leadership again and again by innovating and then everyone else jumping on board.

    Not really. Remember Apple only has a small (5%) market share in computers to begin with and their wireless gear generally is only sold to people who have Macs. And not everyone who has a Mac uses the wireless so the population is even smaller. It's not really surprising they wouldn't be near the top given how popular 802.11b has become.

    Plus Apple doesn't make their own wireless gear. They OEM it from others. Lucent at one point (still?) was the maker of some of their stuff if I recall. They were innovative in using it but they never really were the technology innovators here. They were just smart enough to realize that it was useful ahead of almost everyone else.

    1. Re:Apple is just too small a player in wireless by DustMagnet · · Score: 3, Informative
      Plus Apple doesn't make their own wireless gear. They OEM it from others. Lucent at one point.

      Lucent changed to Orinoco and now Proxim, which surprise surprise is on the list.

      BTW, these Orinoco/Proxim cards are some of the best. Great range, good drivers (wardriving patches) and an external connector for even better range.

      --
      'SBEMAIL!' is better than a goat!!
  20. Avian Carrier achttpd by macshune · · Score: 5, Funny

    SLASHDOT CITY--Slashdot.org has been brought up on animal cruelty charges because of an experiment involving the deaths of over 20,000 carrier pigeons.

    "We were just starting to test a new slashdot webserver using carrier pigeons. All of a sudden tens of thousands of anonymous cowards started posting, overwhelming the pigeons' bandwidth," said the Slashdot.org official on the condition of anonymity.

    The official said later that the pigeons somehow got malformed information (packets) and started crashing into each other, eventually resulting in their deaths.

    There were reports of a large, troll-like creature in the area as well, but so far those claims are unsubstantiated.


  21. Re:Cost vs. Quality by Nom+du+Keyboard · · Score: 3, Insightful
    Linksys is at the top of the heap...there are plenty of companies that make better products

    My Linksys 802.11b router does everything I need it to do, cheaply and reliably. What more can one ask for in a non-cricical home system?

    focus more of quality rather than cost...after all, if they did, we wouldn't have to deal with Wal-Mart

    Since Wal-Mart doesn't manufacture what it sells, uses their buying power to get lower prices on the same items, and doesn't force you to shop there, I don't understand your rant.

    This message sent out through a Linksys router.

    --
    "It's the height of ridiculousness to say for those 9 lines you get hundreds of millions."
  22. The future is not that bright by prostoalex · · Score: 4, Informative
    It is really hard for a newcomer to enter the Wi-Fi market right now. The wireless LAN market suddenly achieved saturation and started experiencing price wars even before it was fully developed and there was an 802.11 hotspot at every house.

    TechKnowledge claims that even though the shipment volumes will grow, the revenues from the wireless LAN sales will decline , since this market is currently experiencing oversupply.

    However, this is bonanza time for consumers and businesses, here are some quotes from the market report quoted above:

    The average price for a chip that enables connections for an 802.11b wireless LAN (WLAN), also known as Wi-Fi, was $16.06 in 2002, but that price will drop to $6.61 by the end of 2003.

    The price for chips based on the 802.11g standard is also expected to fall this year, from $18 per chip in 2002 to $9.68 by the end of 2003

  23. I'm wireless by jabbadabbadoo · · Score: 3, Funny

    My geek-wannabie of a neighbour just got WLAN installed. Time to cancel that xDSL subscription.

  24. Re:Leave it open and use a VPN by thegameiam · · Score: 3, Insightful

    Exactly. The overhead you spend on IPSec is probably about what you'd spend on WEP, and the difference is that IPSec actually works... :)

    -David Barak

    --
    Need Geek Rock? Try The Franchise!