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Generation W: Page 3 of 8

Naturally, Cisco's role in the market is key. If Cisco succeeds in maintaining--or even increasing--its dominant enterprise WLAN market share, many of the companies listed above will disappear. However, Cisco is clearly vulnerable, for two reasons. First, its existing architecture has limitations. The company understands this and is in the midst of a complex evolution towards SWAN, short for Structured Wireless Aware Network. This new architecture leverages a primary Cisco asset, with APs running IOS and more fully integrated with Catalyst switches, which will be equipped with wireless extensions to their native suites of network services. To top it off, there is a management overlay, known as the CiscoWorks Wireless LAN Solution Engine, or WLSE. If successful, Cisco will deliver an integrated set of WLAN services. But this brings us to the second bump in the road: Getting to this integrated nirvana will require careful coordination among multiple Cisco business units, something for which the company is not noted.

The venture capital community doesn't think Cisco will succeed in establishing greater dominance, evidenced by the level of funding flowing to wireless start-ups. VCs aren't just betting that enterprise IT managers will deploy WLANs in large numbers, they're wagering that IT managers will recognize the value proposition offered by the start-ups being funded. VCs believe IT professionals--even those with Cisco wired networks--are willing to consider new technology partners focused on delivering a better wireless mousetrap.

The key word here is better. Some early attempts at WLAN design innovation weren't well-received. Proxim's Harmony system, for example, provided a more integrated approach to managing a WLAN infrastructure, but it lacked scalability and advanced radio management, mobility, security and system monitoring capabilities.

Symbol followed with Mobius (now known as Symbol Wireless Switch System), which used inexpensive thin APs to off-load Layer 2 processing to a closet switch. Symbol's market message was compelling: By moving intelligence from the edge to the core, the company promised to deliver a low-cost infrastructure with a comprehensive array of easily managed wireless services. This was a risky move for Symbol; but though it has taken significantly longer than the company projected to deliver a stable system, Symbol estimates that 40 percent of new system sales are for the new architecture.

Symbol has run up against significant competition from a number of start-ups, most of which are well-funded and staffed by seasoned industry veterans. Most give Symbol credit for a good idea, but claim that their own systems are far more capable.