Wi-Fi

Wi-Fi, short for Wireless Fidelity, is a wireless technology owned by the Wi-Fi Alliance that allows for the flow of information while being completely mobile. The Wi-Fi Alliance is a group of independent companies that collaborate the connectivity of wireless technologies. Society has become accustomed to 'plugging in' whenever we want to connect the Internet but soon it might just be a matter of which direction you are facing. Since 1997, the use of wireless technologies has sprawled and it seems that we have only scratched the surface of the limitless possibilities of its uses. Companies such as Intel are currently developing high-performance wireless communication that will significantly broaden the reach of Wi-Fi. The future of wireless is not going to be about its fancy gadgets. As Intel states, "It's going to be about a wireless society." This would be on a global scale and would allow people to exchange information seamless as they move from place to place.

The advantages of having this technology in an organization are invaluable as they cut costs and free up time for those that use it. It allows you to communicate without being tied down by cables and with the right technology, you can be in touch with the world anywhere you need to be. Most new computer technology, such as laptops, already have Wi-Fi capability built in standard so there is little or no extra cost. There are also hundreds of thousands of public locations that currently have Wi-Fi connections that are easily accessible. With faster communication, organizations can quickly and efficiently execute their business.

Although there are many possibilities for Wi-Fi, there are still limitations and disadvantages of the wireless technology. As its popularity grows, so will its volume of traffic and users. This will inevitably slow its performance if we cannot keep up with its growth. Wi-Fi also requires more power which pushes for better battery technology which can drives up expenses. And then there are the more obvious flaws such as natural barriers that limit connectivity, range of the connection and technology failures.

Since this is still a developing technology, any one of these advantages or disadvantages could intensify or disappear completely. Wi-Fi technology should be rated very highly on its usefulness in an organization as long as the company has the technology and knowledge to support it.

http://computer.howstuffworks.com/wireless-network1.htm