Wireless LANs

“The wireless workplace will soon be upon us^†

Telia has strengthened its position within the area of radio-based data solutions through the acquisition of Global Cast Internetworking. The company will primarily enhance Telia Mobile’s offering in wireless LANs and develop solutions that will lead to the introduction of the wireless office. A number of different alternatives to fixed data connections are currently under development and, later wireless IP telephony will also be introduced.

…

The acquisition means that Telia Mobile has secured the resources it needs to maintain its continued expansion and product development within the field of radio-based LAN solutions. Radio LANs are particularly suitable for use by small and medium-sized companies as well as by operators of public buildings such as airports and railway stations.

Today’s radio-LAN technology is based on inexpensive products that do not require frequency certification. They are easy to install and are often used to replace cabled data networks in, for example, large buildings.

…”

[emphasis added by Maguire]

^† Telia press announcement: 1999-01-25

Transcript

[slide45] Now, Telia in a press announcement in 1999 said, the wireless workplace will soon be upon us, and they basically described what we see today as wireless LAN and voice over IP over wireless LAN, so you could go from one premise to the other while talking away, while using the various wireless LANs around you. They soon removed that press release, because they, I think, revealed too much.