| Wifi known as Wireless Fidelity allows a user to | | | | allow business networks to easily expand and |
| connect to the internet without using network | | | | grow making a Wifi network a very useful |
| cabling. Whether it's from your bedroom, couch, | | | | technology in the business world. Businesses no |
| indoors or outdoors data can be sent and | | | | longer need to abandon current network |
| received within the range of a wireless base | | | | infrastructures and start over, they can simply |
| station. Wifi uses 802.11a or 802.11b technologies | | | | use this wireless technology to easily change the |
| to provide a very reliable connection that is also | | | | network and allow for rapid growth. |
| fast and secure. | | | | Wifi networks work at the 2.4 or 5 GHz bands |
| Wifi is available to every type of internet user | | | | and possible speeds of 11 or 54 Mbps. Their |
| and allows multiple users to connect to each | | | | speeds are very comparable to 10baseT |
| other, other devices and the internet. However, | | | | networks and allow for easy network access. A |
| your connecting device will need to have a Wifi | | | | Wifi network is essentially plug and play as you |
| certified card (PC Card or PCMCIA card) and it will | | | | can turn on a certified device and connect to the |
| connect to other certified products such as a | | | | wireless network providing you have the proper |
| base station or access point. It also saves on the | | | | authentication and security credentials. |
| cost and distance limitations of using cables, not | | | | Wifi networks have security in the form of WEP |
| to mention the unsightly look of running cables | | | | (Wired Equivalent Protocol) that can provide the |
| throughout an area. | | | | same level of security as that of a wired LAN. |
| These networks are very useful in the business | | | | Wireless networks that are transmitted over |
| and sales industry as they allow salespeople and | | | | radio waves are more susceptible to security |
| travelers to connect to the network with ease | | | | problems, but WEP aims to provide security by |
| and not be confined to one location to access | | | | encrypting the data sent over the radio waves. |
| applications such as email and databases. They | | | | |