IBM is to wireless enable products across all sectors of its
business, from laptops to servers.
The company is banking on a boom in wireless business and wants to
ensure its product line is ready for take off.
"Wireless is a technology which is quite mature in transmission,
and it's a model available to transport data - but bandwidth and
speed have been missing," said Peter Sutherland, brand manager at
IBM's mobile PC division. "These things are now becoming available
and people want more mobility and greater flexibility."
According to analysts Gartner Group, within three years the average
employee will use at least three wireless devices in their daily
work, such as a laptop, PDA and mobile phone.
Earlier this month, IBM chief executive Lou Gerstner said he
expected some two billion wireless access devices to be deployed
within the next two years.
IBM is offering selected products with wireless LAN capabilities.
Michel Mayer, general manager of IBM's pervasive computing division
said: "There's call for both wireless and wired LANs. I don't
envisage people ripping out cables from wired LANs, or a time when
customers will only buy wireless-enabled products."
The IBM announcement follows news from rival Compaq that it is
launching its new Evo wireless-enabled product line.
The IBM wireless infrastructure covers the ThinkPad and WorkPad
lines at the low end, and sees the introduction of a new remote
wireless management technology for IBM's eServer line.
The company will also offer wireless infrastructure services, and
is to announce a series of programmes designed to bring wireless
products to market through IBM business partners. IBM has also
revealed that it is working with Mitsubishi Electric on the
development of advanced low-power chips for 3G phones.
Emma Nash