Kyle Klassen, Nortel's director of enterprise mobility solutions, is enthusiastic about 11n's potential for creating an all-wireless network.

"I think it will be a catalyst" for change, he says, enabling organizations to rethink workflows, improve collaboration, save cellular costs by running Voice over Wi-Fi and make it easier for offices to move desks around. It could even slash the size and cost of wiring closets, he points out.

But even he admits that the lack of a finalized standard, clients and price is holding back many network buyers.

And as 11n is honed, it will get faster, he adds. While the promise is up to 600Mbps, the Draft 2.0 version only supports spatial streams of about half that - theoretically - another reason many buyers are taking their time.

3G architectures

Meanwhile 11n is not the only big news in enterprise wireless. There are a number of what Corsetti calls third-generation architecture companies offering new ways of building wireless.

These include Extricom, a Tel Aviv-headquartered company, whose "channel blanket" approach to VoWi-Fi adds intelligent routing to reduce network traffic. Similarly, access points from Aerohive Networks use what it calls co-operative control to get the benefits of a controller-based wireless LAN but without requiring a controller or an overlay network. The APs share information to enable functions such as fast Layer 2/Layer 3 roaming, co-operative RF management, security and mesh networking. Ruckus Wireless of Sunnyvale, Calif., claims its RF routing technology allows signals to be focused and directed over the best performing paths.

However, according to Corsetti, Cisco Systems may again have stolen a march on the industry with its Cisco Motion strategy, announced in May.

The idea is to treat wireless as a platform for mobile applications. Ben Gibson, Cisco's senior director of mobility solutions, said in an interview that given the capability, organizations will want to wirelessly tag and locate almost anything with an IP address that moves - laptops, mobile phones, server blades, medical equipment, and so on.

That will demand tight integration with wired and wireless networks, Corsetti said, an approach that an increasing number of network buyers are demanding to simplify network management.

Parts of Cisco Mobility, which includes the ability to unify networks are available now. Nortel has also seen the light. Klassen said that next year it will introduce a new series of 11n products whose wireless capabilities will eventually be included in its routers and switches, making for easier management.

Corsetti warns that pure-play wireless companies without wireline products will may be left out of such a vision.