802.11b-Based LANs Take Over Home Networking

Many of us have more that one computer in our homes but only one place to hook up the DSL (or cable) line if we don't want to run cables all over the house. This should get even more frustrating as more and more broadband-based conversion apps come into play. You may want to use the broadband connection in your office, but your kids may want to plan online games on the Xbox in the living room. A networking scheme that doesn't have you crawling around in the attic to run wires sounds like a pretty good idea. According to Allied Business Intelligence's (ABI) latest report "Home Networking Equipment - A Practical Assessment of Technologies and Changing Market Dynamics," the "no new wires" home networking market, driven by wireless local area networking (WLAN) solutions, should grow to $243 million in 2001, up from $123 million last year. By 2006, the global market will be worth $2.4 billion, so apparently, I'm not the only one too lazy to run Cat 5 cables everywhere. According to the report, in 2000, wireless solutions accounted for 34% of the "no new wires" home networking units shipped, with HomePNA-based phoneline solutions accounting for 63%. By 2006, the report says that wireless will account for 48% of nodes as WLAN products hit more consumer-friendly cost points and manufacturers look to embed wireless capabilities. The study found that while HomeRF accounted for 58% of wireless home networking nodes in 2000, its market share has been slipping away in 2001. In 2001, ABI says that 802.11b should account for at least 71% of wireless nodes shipped, up from a 42% share in 2000. The study also found that HomePNA is experiencing growing pains, though it has gotten a solid response from residential gateway vendors and service providers. ABI expects that powerline solutions will play a growing role, with HomePlug-compliant products arriving in late 2001. By 2006, powerline solutions are expected to account for 27% of "no new wires" nodes. The report also covers other home networking market segments including residential gateways and structured wiring. AIB says that the total high-speed residential connectivity market, which includes these two segments, will be worth $10.8 billion by 2006. Just can't wait for networking to get cheaper. Ever since I got a DSL line for the home office, no one want to use the computer with the dial-up connection.