Many of these individuals, nearly 2 million of them, have begun utilizing wireless WANs to allow easier and continuos access to e-mail and other applications while traveling and meeting with customers. The need and availability of wireless WAN services should turn the wireless WAN market into multi-billion dollar sales.
Wireless networks fall into one of three categories.
There are wireless LAN devices sold by many companies, such as Proxim, Symbol, and others, that specialize in providing cable free connections to users within a local area, primarily within a room or building. Another line of wireless network products, wireless remote network bridges, satisfy requirements necessary to connect buildings and other remote sites separated by distances of up to 30 miles or so. A wireless WAN, on the other hand, covers a much wider area, which includes the majority of the U.S. Mobile workers are found in many vertical markets, such as courier services, field sales and service, transportation, and insurance. However, in general, users of wireless WANs include anyone who needs to work away from their office computer. To maintain productivity, these workers need to maintain access to information and applications that relate to their jobs.