Networking giant Cisco Systems Inc said it is fully committed to WLAN (wireless local area network) technology, and is positioning its products specifically at the enterprise market space.
"There are clearly two distinct markets for WLAN. The first is the small-medium business (SMB) and small office home office (SOHO) markets, while the second consists of the enterprise market," said James A. Furneaux, product manager for wireless networking at Cisco"s Asia Pacific office.
"And it"s the latter that Cisco is targeting," he added.
Furneaux acknowledged that while there may be many players in WLAN technology, many focus on SMB/ SOHO customers, while few focus on the enterprise markets.
"Cisco is not competing with companies offering rudimentary wireless AP (access point) for the mass consumer market, but to companies, for the purpose of enhancing their businesses," he told reporters at a media briefing in Petaling Jaya recently.
Furneaux said that according to a research published by Synergy Research Group Inc, total WLAN equipment sales is forecast to be worth US$3.6bil (RM13.7bil) in 2003 alone, set to increase to US$4.9bil (18.6bil) in 2006.