Wireless LANs have finally matured into a viable and affordable means of extending your wired network.
Mercedes-Benz USA had a problem that many businesses face. The company maintains volumes of information--vehicle inventory, repair records, and automobile troubleshooting, among other things--in its corporate databases and intranets.
Mercedes-Benz employees often need to access these files when they're not plugged into the company's LAN (on dealership floors, in garages, or under the hood of a car).
Enter 802.11b wireless network access. Once regarded as a high-tech plaything for the executive conference room, wireless LAN technology is now a viable option for mainstream businesses, thanks to lower cost, improved inter-vendor compatibility, and the emergence of wireless Internet access in public places.
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Basically, a wireless LAN replaces the last three metres of Ethernet cable between your laptop and the wall. Mercedes-Benz has installed wireless LANs in 10 percent of its dealerships so far, and it's hoping to set up frame relay networks in all 430 dealerships nationwide.
Larry Roll, supervisor of network telecommunications at Mercedes-Benz USA, says, "Now the service techs have a way to hook right into the network."
Once the wireless LAN access point was set up, which was simple to do and took only about one hour, employees were able to connect to the intranet and Internet from almost anywhere within the Mercedes-Benz facilities. The sales staff, for example, can use the wireless LAN directly from the showroom floor to locate a particular car model or colour for a customer. Mechanics use the wireless LAN to diagnose problems, order parts online, and retrieve a car's maintenance history.
| Product | Review | Rating | ||
| Cisco Aironet 350 Series | Read Review |  |
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| Intermec 2102 Corporate Access Point | Read Review |  |
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 Lucent Orinoco AP-1000 |
Read Review | |
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| Ericsson Wireless LAN 11Mbps DSSS | Read Review |  |
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| Intel PRO/Wireless 2011 LAN Solution | Read Review | |
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| 3Com AirConnect 11Mbps Wireless LAN | Read Review | |
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| D-Link DWL-1000AP |
Read Review | |
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| Linksys Instant Wireless WAP11 | Read Review | |
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| Lucent Orinoco RG-1000 | Read Review | |
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