FRITZ!Box Fon WLAN 7113
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Glossary
WLAN
abbreviation for Wireless LAN, or Wireless Local Area
Network
The term WLAN designates the industry standard for
wireless local networks passed by the Institute of
Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) in 1997 under
the title IEEE 802.11.
By means of WLAN technology, individual computers or
network devices like printers or DSL access points can be
linked wirelessly to an existing cable-connected local
network (LAN), or LANs can be converted completely to a
wireless structure. A further useful purpose for WLAN
technology is to link segments of existing cable-
connected networks.
Although WLAN was actually developed only for short-
range connections, by cascading WLAN access points or
implementing transmission networks with high-power
point-to-point radio transmission, even network segments
located further from each other can be linked or network
participants in relatively remote locations can be
economically and easily integrated into an existing
network.
WLAN access points often also serve as access points to
the Internet in private or public institutions. Many
airports, hotels and cafes, for instance, make WLAN
hotspots available to their customers, either free or
subject to a charge. Ultimately this has maneuvered WLAN
into serious competition with mobile UMTS technology.
The application possibilities for wireless network
communication also overlap with Bluetooth technology.
For mobile devices with limited energy capacity Bluetooth
is the more useful solution, however, as Bluetooth uses
considerably less power than wireless LAN. What is more,
Bluetooth technology is more flexible and thus can offer a
greater bandwidth of potential applications.
