Gartner urges 802.11n Wi-Fi restraint

Next-gen Wi-Fi will not truly be ready until 2007, analyst firm warns

Tom Sanders in California

Companies should stay away from next-generation Wi-Fi equipment described as 802.11n compliant, Gartner has warned. 

"Plan to stay with Wi-Fi certified products under the 802.11a/b/g banner. Expect these technology investments to be good for at least four more years," a group of three Gartner analysts recommended, adding that 802.11n should not be considered until 2007.

Advertisement

The forthcoming 802.11n Wi-Fi standard will be compatible with existing 802.11a/b/g standards. It aims to increase the speed of Wi-Fi networks, boosting transmission rates from the current 54Mbps to 600Mbps and increasing the technology's range.

Broadcom and Marvell have already announced that they will start producing 'draft-compliant' chipsets, but Gartner labelled these claims as "misleading" and "premature". 

The analyst firm believes that the technology is likely to be changed before a final standard is approved, and that additional testing will be required to ensure compatibility with existing Wi-Fi standards.

Altogether it will take another year before the 802.11n standard is ready, Gartner predicted.

  • Have your say
  • Send to a friend
  • Print
  • Digg
  • Reddit
  • Share

Tags:

Do you agree?

Related whitepapers

Related jobs

Most watched

iPhone

Video Review: iPhone 3GS

We put Apple's latest iPhone through its paces

Xperia X1

Video Review: Sony Ericsson Xperia X1

First Looks Editor Ian Williams gets hands on with the Sony Ericsson Xperia X1

IT white papers

Search white papers

Top categories

Poll

Poll: Summer smartphones

Poll: Summer smartphones

Which smartphone will you be taking to the beach this summer?

View poll results

Advertisement

Advertisement

Newsletter signup

Sign up for our range of FREE newsletters:

Existing User

Newsletter user login:

Enter email address to edit your newsletter preferences

Job of the week

Search thousands of IT jobs :

Search thousands of IT jobs:

Advanced search

Hiring now on ComputingCareers:

Related IT jobs

Search thousands of IT jobs :

Search thousands of IT jobs:

Advanced search

Spotlight

iPhone

Video Review: iPhone 3GS

We put Apple's latest iPhone through its paces

old computer

Government honours veterans of Bletchley Park at last

Surviving veterans of the code-breaking facility to receive badge of...

Motorola MC55 Enterprise Digital Assistant

Review: Motorola MC55 Enterprise Digital Assistant

A rugged Windows Mobile device for mobile workers

BT

BT promises 1.5m fibre connections by summer 2010

Telco begins major rollout in 69 locations across the UK

Primary Navigation