Sales of wireless networking (WLAN) products based on the 802.11b specification increased 15 percent in the first quarter of 2001 compared to the previous quarter, according to a market study by Dell’Oro Group.
The study said that the WLAN industry was energized by increasing sales into the home and small businesses. Total revenue for the quarter was $231.4 million, according to the study.
“In 2000, the market reached critical mass such that the products can be priced for mainstream deployment,” said Greg Collins, a director at Dell’Oro Group. “With continually falling prices and a roadmap of subsequent technologies such as 802.11a, wireless LANs are certain to become key components of business, home, and public networks.”
Agere continued be the leading vendor and its sales grew by three percent in the quarter, the study said. Cisco remained the second-leading vendor, but its sales shrank by 15 percent. The third-leading vendor, Buffalo, saw its sales grow by 97 percent.
The study covers equipment for both the home and enterprise including access points and bridges, gateways and network interface cards as well as enabled devices.