The form factor of an internal wireless radio network interface card (NIC) defines a physical and electrical bus interface that enables the radio card to communicate with a computing device. The barrage of form factors -- a fancy way of saying the physical size and shape of a device -- demands that you be careful when purchasing a card that matches your specific user device. Let's take a closer look at the various forms available for desktop PCs, laptops and Personal Digital Assistants (PDAs).

In the absence of adequate 802.11 security, quality of service, and roaming mechanisms, companies such as ReefEdge, Bluesocket, and Nomadix offer access control solutions to strengthen wireless LAN systems. The key component to these solutions is an access controller: hardware that resides on the wired portion of the network between the 802.11 access points and the protected side of the network. Access controllers provide centralized intelligence behind the access points to regulate traffic between the relatively open wireless LAN and important network resources.

Wireless LANs certainly provide the freedom of mobility as we use our laptops and PDAs without the constraints of network cabling. Of course to facilitate this benefit, we unplug our devices from AC power and operate them from batteries. As most of know, however, 802.11 network cards consume significant amounts of energy that drains batteries fast.

Ultrawideband (UWB) modulation is beginning to take a stronger foothold in the wireless networking industry. While it has been used for a while by the military, UWB is now going through the necessary authorizations and developments for public and commercial use. Even thought the advancement of UWB has been somewhat slow, there's a possibility that UWB will become the "next best" technology for all types of wireless networks, including wireless LANs.