| The definition of MOW1, MOW2, and ROW in | | | | different card types. They were rather successful |
| relation to wireless cards may be a little elusive, | | | | at this by coming up with three wireless card |
| because these are not protocols or standards, but | | | | groups that could be used in three roughly |
| rather an attempt to create a versatile card that | | | | contiguous parts of the world. |
| can be used in a large part of the world. These | | | | The three groups were named MOW1, MOW2, |
| strange appellations pretty much exist as part of | | | | and ROW. MOW literally stands for "Most of the |
| wireless card listings in catalogs ads and | | | | World" and is split up into two sets: MOW1 and |
| brochures, as well as on many a website - usually | | | | MOW2. That left the "Rest of the World" and |
| with little or no explanation. | | | | thus the third set of card types were designated |
| With so many governing and regulatory bodies, | | | | ROW. |
| the world of wireless is one of ever changing | | | | Cards manufactured for MOW1 could generally be |
| landscapes. Since different countries around the | | | | used anywhere in the Americas without running |
| world have different laws and regulations | | | | into problems with local regulations. Similarly, |
| governing the use of wireless cards, | | | | MOW2 cards can generally be used in European, |
| manufacturers found it necessary to try to come | | | | Middle Eastern, and African countries, and ROW |
| up with some broad divisions of the cards by | | | | cards can generally be used in Asian countries. |
| physical attributes that would limit the number of | | | | |