Until recently, wireless local area networks have been just another grass roots, hobbyist technology - the purview of home-networking enthusiasts and risk-taking IT managers. But all of that is expected to change soon, as the major international wireless carriers roll out high-speed local networks. Paradoxically, this both threatens and assures the future of 3G - the heretofore heir to the wireless throne.

In addition, Radio frequency identification (RFID) is making important inroads in the wireless networking arena. RFID first appeared in tracking and access applications during the 1980s. These wireless systems allow for non-contact reading and are effective in manufacturing and other hostile environments where bar code labels could not survive. RFID has established itself in a wide range of markets including location services and automated vehicle identification (AVI) systems because of its ability to track moving objects. MedicAlert is actively investigating RFID opportunities for activation devices.

For MedicAlert, providing access to member medical information using a combination of Wi-Fi, Wi-Max, RFID and cellular technologies will most likely be a focus of emerging demand in the next few years.

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