Linux Becomes a Core Part of the Network
Everyone loves to talk about Linux, but not that many people actually do anything about it. In 2005, Linux will accelerate its move toward the center of the enterprise network, and become the operating system of choice not just for pilot programs, but for mission-critical applications.
Intelligence Thrives at the Edge
The core of the network is no longer where it's atthe network edge is the next frontier. Intelligence gets built increasingly into devices at the network edge.
Mobile & Wireless Predictions
The Shakeout Begins
The number of fast wireless access options will increase in 2005 but, initially, the plethora of options will cause marketplace confusion. Those options start with Wi-Fi hotspots that, increasingly, are being expanded to cover areas as large as cities. Then, there's 3G cellular data services. In the U.S., Verizon leads in this race, claiming that 75 million potential users in the U.S. will have access to its 3G 1xEV-DO service by the beginning of 2005. A third option will be wireless broadband such as WiMax and FLASH-OFDM. WiMax has far greater name recognition but won't support mobile users as does FLASH-OFDM.
Phones Do More
In the last year, smart phones such as the palmOne Treo that combine wireless voice and PDA functionality started becoming popular. Expect even more functionality to be stuffed into these phones in 2005 as their popularity grows. For instance, smart phones with built-in Wi-Fi will not only enable Web browsing but also wireless voice-over-IP. In addition, adding near-field communications (NFC) or smart-card technology to phones will people use them make paymentssimply swipe them near a compatible point-of-sale terminal instead of using a credit card. This is starting to take off in Japan and trials are underway in the U.S. and Europe.
Access In The Air
Internet access and possibly cell phones are coming to air travel. Fast data access in the air was kicked off last fall by Lufthansa and Connexion by Boeing. Boeing's arch-rival, Airbus, also is developing in-flight Web access and more airlines are expected to provide this service, particularly on long-haul flights. In-flight Net access should prove popular, but not everybody is happy that the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) will examine allowing cell phone access on flights. Safety isn't the issue. The big concern is whether fliers will be forced to listen to the jabber of countless private conversations with no hope of escape. Who knows, maybe the airlines will divide jetliner cabins into coach, business class, first classs, and non-calling.
Keith Ferrell, David Haskin, Preston Gralla, Fredric Paul, and Don St. John contributed to this report.
The new HPE Aruba 730 series Wi-Fi 7 access points tout high performance, enhanced security, location tracking capabilities, and more.
Verizon is demoing crowd analytics technology that uses 5G along with AI and mobile edge computing to give stadium operators insights into the flow of fans throughout a venue.
As we move closer to fully realizing the potential of Wi-Fi 7, it becomes evident that the RF, signaling, and throughput tests are not merely procedural checkpoints but the pillars of excellence in wireless communication.
