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ABI Research is bullish on the prospects of 802.11n WiFi connectivity, arguing that in 2014 at least 87% of WiFi-capable smartphones will ship with support for this latest version of the 802.11 protocols. However, the research company added that users of these phones shouldn’t expect laptop-like performance, at least not initially.
According to ABI’s Michael Morgan, 802.11n is arriving in the handset just at the right time. “We had to wait for consumers to switch over to 802.11n access points, and we’re just now reaching that tipping point. Something like 50% of the Wi-Fi access points on offer are now 11n. Consumers are becoming aware of what it can do,” he added.
Morgan also warned that the first 802.11n-enabled handsets will not offer MIMO or some of 11n’s more advanced enhancements. The full power of the protocol won’t be available in most handsets until 2014 or later.
The prospects of the growth are clear – it costs manufacturers virtually no more to include 802.11n in handsets alongside the current “b” and “g” protocols…
More information about ABI Research’s “Wi-Fi Handsets – Moving to 802.11n” is available from their website.
About The Author
Dusan Belic
Dusan has been using smartphones since their introduction and is now following the latest trends in the industry. The "convergence" is what he's most excited about, and writing about it is the next logical thing to do. He thinks that using a smartphone is what everyone who cares about their time should do. In addition to his interests in mobile phones, Dusan also loves to experiment with the latest web and mobile 2.0 services. The idea of accessing and managing your information from any device no matter where you are simply amazes him. Whether it's an online to-do list, note taking service or a video sharing social network, he's there to try it out. He admits though, he's still searching for the ultimate web-based organizational tool, which "sings" perfectly with the mobile PIM application. Dusan used to run SymbianWatch.com which later became part of IntoMobile. He lives in Serbia, South-East Europe, from where he edits the site on a daily basis.
