by Anton Shilov
08/29/2002 | 03:12 PM
Intel remains to be the driving force for the computer market. Beginning in 2003, they will force the WLAN implementation in mobile computers. According to their predictions, about a half from 45 million of notebooks sold world-wide in 2005 will be equipped with Wireless LAN cards. Intel is planning to push its WLAN adapters together with Banias processor starting from the first quarter 2003.
Intel will offer additional discounts on Calexico-series of WLAN cards for their partners, who buy Banias processors. For instance, those, who buy Banias CPUs will get Calexico Dualband mPCI adapter for $35 or Calexico 802.11b mPCI for $20, the original price for these devices is $63.18 and $44.88 accordingly. It does not mean that complete sets with a Banias processor and a WLAN adapter are going to be cheap, but it now becomes clear that Intel wants the industry to use both devices. I will remind you the rumoured launch prices for Banias CPUs: Banias 1.6GHz - $637, Banias 1.5GHZ - $423, Banias 1.4GHz - $294, Banias 1.3GHz - $209.<%BANNER[article]%>
Given that electronic-business develops really fast nowadays, Intel is just right offering WLAN now. A lot of people now need to be have instant internet access almost everywhere. There are a lot of travellers, who have their notebooks with them and can surf the Net in hotels, airports or cafes. A lot of companies now choose to build wireless local area networks instead of wired, since sometimes wireless may be cheaper. Keeping in mind the general trend that numerous enterprises buy notebooks instead of desktops, perspectives of wired LANs are doubtful.
What is very important is the fact that organisation of wireless local area networks is nowadays considerably cheaper than it used to be 4 years ago. For example, the cost of establishing WLAN dropped 29% from 1998 to 2001, Intel predicts it will drop another 60% until 2005.
According to IDC, notebook market will grow 21.6% in 2001-2006, while desktop computer market will only grow 16.5%.