The Change Mariner: Nokia Leaps Into Wi-Fi

February 23, 2004

Nokia Leaps Into Wi-Fi

Nokia Corp., in a move that could loosen cellphone operators' grip on the wireless market, plans to unveil Monday its first handset capable of surfing the Internet using short-range wireless technology known as Wi-Fi.
Nokia's Communicator 9500 will be able to bypass conventional cellphone networks, but still access the Web and even make phone calls using a Wi-Fi network. Key to its operation are "hot spots" springing up in offices, homes, coffee shops, hotels and other areas within 300 feet of a Wi-Fi base station connected to the Internet via a fixed line. Consumers now need a specially equipped laptop or personal organizer to use these hot spots.

The arrival of handsets with built-in Wi-Fi chips could be a threat to cellphone operators, such as Vodafone Group PLC, NTT DoCoMo Inc. and Cingular Wireless, that have been trying to develop new revenue sources by selling wireless data services, such as Web browsing and e-mail.

Nokia and other cellphone makers also hope phones with Wi-Fi connections will spur consumers to replace their handsets, increasing sales in the same way camera phones gave the cellphone industry a much-needed boost last year.

Wi-Fi Handbook : Building 802.11b Wireless Networks
McGraw-Hill Professional

Amazon Price: $50.36

Real 802.11 Security: Wi-Fi Protected Access and 802.11i
Addison-Wesley Pub Co

Amazon Price: $31.49

Wi-Fi Home Networking
McGraw-Hill/TAB Electronics

Amazon Price: $20.97

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