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Symbol Technologies has plans for the alphabet soup of wireless formats: mix them all together with Wireless Next Generation (Wi-NG), an RF switching architecture that enables the consolidation of WiFi, RFID, VoWLAN (Voice over Wireless LAN), mesh and WiMAX networks.

The company says that by 2009, the RFID market will reach $2.5 billion and the enterprise WLAN market will reach $2.9 billion. Instead of continuing to build separate networks, said Symbol, why not consolidate them to create an RF switched domain that uses both?

The Linux-based Wi-NG architecture is the latest development from the company that introduced the first wireless LAN in 1989, and the first wireless switch in 2002. Wi-NG will serve as the foundation for Fixed-Mobile Convergence (FMC) for the enterprise, providing t connectivity to dual-mode cellular/Wi-Fi handheld devices.

Wi-NG will enable FMC by supporting current and emerging broadband wireless technologies, including 802.11n, WiMAX, GPRS, EV-DO, and integrate multiple Wi-Fi networks in a LAN. Symbol says dual-mode VoIP phones will switch back-and-forth seamlessly between the Wi-Fi network and the cellular carrier for the user to take advantage of the best available connection.

"The layered Wi-NG architecture is an engineering concept leap that takes advantage of multiple hardware platforms and multiple-processor systems to enable scalable, high-performance wireless solutions required by the next generation of enterprise mobility," said Sujai Hajela, vice president of engineering of Symbol's Wireless Infrastructure Division.

For location-based services, Wi-NG includes Wireless Intrusion Protection System (Wireless IPS) for locating devices and disarming potential threats, guarding against unauthorized access and malicious attacks on the Wi-Fi network.

Jason L. Miller is a staff writer for WebProNews covering technology and business.