802.11 wireless LAN spec gets final IEEE approval

Electronic News, July 7, 1997 by Peter Brown

The 802.11 specification is the first opportunity for WLAN companies to begin to work toward interoperability between proprietary products. The WLAN companies participating in the alliance include Proxim, Breeze Wireless Communications (BreezeCom), Netwave Technologies, Raytheon Wireless Solutions and Symbol Technologies. The standard provides a catalyst for manufacturers to design detailed technical requirements that are needed to establish multi-vendor interoperability among different suppliers' products.

"This is a great day in the world of Wireless LAN. It is a very interesting time right now and I think that you will see broader applications approaching this market now," Bruce Sanguinetti, executive VP of BreezeCom, told Electronic News. "Office automation, schools, universities, libraries can all become a great second source as interoperable products become available."

According to Mr. Sanguinetti, the specification does not necessarily guarantee interoperability and the next step has to be taken by the manufacturers to endorse, embrace, and conform to the 802.11 spec.

"We are certainly hoping that this is a positive thing. 802.11 acts as a baseline so that the companies developing wireless LAN products will be able to work together nicely," said Brian Button, Proxim's VP of sales and marketing. "The intent is to breed competition by differentiating your product line while still allowing for interoperability so a customer is not tied to one vendor and can mix and match the best products."

Mr. Sanguinetti added the standard will separate the wheat from the chaff and begin honest competition among WLAN vendors--something the industry has needed for some time.

"I think the one-trick ponies out there will have to either find a unique product and push it heavily or sink to the bottom," said Mr. Sanguinetti. "Some might see the standard not as a blessing but as a curse because they have used their products as the de facto standard for quite some time."

Industry observers suggest that one such company might be Proxim, currently the largest supplier of WLAN products and who also created--along with the Wireless LAN Interoperability Forum(WLI Forum)--a de facto standard called OpenAir 2.4.

However, Proxim will continue to develop products designed for the OpenAir standard as well as begin developing products for the 802.11 spec, Proxim's Mr. Button said.

"Just because one standard exists doesn't mean one will go away," said Mr. Button. "We believe that for the foreseeable future, the OpenAir spec and IEEE 802.11 will exist cooperatively, rather than in competition."

John Langley, product line manager for wireless LAN products for Raytheon Microelectronics, agreed citing the fact that Proxim has been one of the primary pushers for the 802.11 standard--giving the standard the ultimate legitimacy.

"802.11 has been a long time coming to the light of day. There has been a lot of corporate hesitation for adopting wireless LAN because all of the solutions were proprietary and they didn't want to be tied to one company," said Mr. Langley. "The spec will make it an exciting time in this industry and we will begin to see a broad horizonal acceptance for wireless LAN in many new and up coming markets."

One disappointment from Raytheon's perspective was the creation of two versions of the standard--one for frequency hopping WLAN and another for direct sequence WLAN.

"Historically these two factions could never come to agreement as to what was the best approach," said Mr. Langley. "Instead of waiting for that to come to the head, IEEE made both available. By having done this, a compromise was made for all companies which is really disappointing. However, the important thing is that a standard was made."