What's more, the wireless network was noticeably slower than the conventional one sometimes less than one-third as fast. The wireless network didn't warrant the effort needed to get it fully up and running. Just over a year later, however, there's renewed interest in wireless LAN products among both suppliers and their customers. This summer, for example, networking company Cabletron Systems of Ro-chester, N.H., made a series of wireless product announcements that added up to a direct assault on chief complaints about products already on the market. Dell Computer Corp. also is trying to stake out a commanding position in wireless LANs.
Some industry analysts agree.
It will affect many kinds of networks, she said, including the wide area networks that carry federal agency data traffic across the nation. Experts like Fenn say the issuance of a new industry standard for wireless Ethernet has been a key factor in the recent wireless LAN developments. But others aren't sure that wireless LANs will amount to more than a specialty product. NPR's Boots is among these doubters. He expects wireless to show up in the places where it already has established a presence.