Subject: [NEXTEL-1] Like I said: Don't Believe The Wi-Fi Hype-

From: [email-masked]
Date: Mon, 23 Jun 2003 16:35:52 -0400

Like I said: Don't Believe The Wi-Fi Hype-
IDC: Wi-Fi hype contrasts with reality
Hotspot users will approach 25 million by 2008

Scarlet Pruitt, LONDON
Analyst firm IDC threw some cold water on the
hotspot hype this week, predicting that
although worldwide commercial Wi-Fi locations
are set to grow 57% annually over the next five
years, the market is still young and rife with
uncertainty.

In a summary of a report released last week,
IDC analysts liken the hotspot market to a
"technology gold rush" and warn that despite
promises it is still in the early phases of
deployment. Most business models are not yet
proven and the competitive landscape is very
unclear, Keith Waryas, research manager of
IDC's Wireless Business Network Services
programme, says.

The firm predicts that the Wi-Fi market will
evolve in two stages, with an emphasis on
network expansion over the next two years,
followed by three years of relationship building
amongst carriers. During the second phase,
carriers will make network roaming agreements
and partnerships that will be essential to filling
gaps in their individual networks, IDC says.

Still, the market could offer some sizzling
revenue opportunities. IDC estimates that Wi-Fi
revenue streams would grow 143% annually
over the next five years, while the number of
users is due to double each year over that
same period. By 2008, hotspot users will
approach 25 million, IDC says.

http://computerworld.co.nz/webhome.nsf/UNID/8A8E53D803682202CC256D4E00192A0B!opendocument

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