IEEE 802.11i, k, ma, n, p, r, n, s, t, u, and v
 
802.11i - Security
No longer in development, 802.11i is a ratified standard
to improve wireless security. It consists of two primary
functions: the use of the TKIP protocol to improve security
with legacy hardware (aka WPA-I) and RSN for new hardware
deployments (aka WPA-II). 
Benefit: Well thought-out open security standards are much
better than closed "solutions" that have not been
challenged openly by the security community. 

802.11k - Radio Resource Management
This specification will standardize how radios deal with
different wireless signal and noise information, including
how they make decisions on when to roam from one AP to
another. Right now, the decision to roam between access
points is based on vendor criteria and isn't
standardized. 
Benefit: Consistent roaming between access points,
improved connectivity through better medium management. 

802.11ma - Corrects and clarifications to IEEE 802.11-1999.
Enhancements to 802.11 MAC and physical functions that have
generally been adopted by vendors but not solidified with a
standard. 
Benefit: Greater consistency in vendor products through
clarified standards. 

802.11p - Wireless Access in Vehicular Environments (WAVE)
A new physical layer specification using the licensed 5.9
GHz band for transactions between the roadside and moving
vehicles. One obvious use for this standard is toll-debit
services for cars on the highway, but it could also be used
for voice conversations in cars, replacing cellular
technology. 
Benefit: Niche solution, but forces IEEE to think carefully
about "fast roaming". 

802.11r - Fast Roaming
A new standard to reduce the amount of time to roam between
access points, eliminating the short loss of service that
is painful for real-time streaming protocols. This has some
security challenges, including how to handle cached
authentication credentials shared between access
points. 
Benefit: Improved service for real-time protocols such as
streaming video and VoIP. 

802.11n - Enhanced throughput for 802.11 networks
A new physical layer standard offering longer range and
improved throughput using MIMO (multiple-input,
multiple-output) technology. 802.11n networks are designed
to achieve >100 Mbps real throughput. 
Benefit: Fast Ethernet throughput on wireless networks with
greater range - just be careful not to get caught up in
pre-N equipment that may be incompatible with standardized
802.11n. 

802.11s - ESS Mesh (estimated completion date is 2007-01-01)
Standards-based mechanism to provide peer-to-peer
connectivity using other stations as repeaters. This is a
wonderful application of wireless technology, allowing
organizations to cover large areas without significant
investment in infrastructure. I predict security to be a
problem here, since the design of a mesh network is the
same as that of a man-in-the-middle
attack. 
Benefit: Increased range with less infrastructure costs. 

802.11t - Wireless Performance Prediction (WPP) - test
methods and metrics Development of a formal standard for
testing performance and stability of IEEE 802.11 products.
This will open the testing process for wireless equipment,
opposed to the closed Wi-Fi Alliance interoperability
certification process. 
Benefit: Open standards and testing processes improves the
quality of products and provides more assurance for
interoperability between vendors. 

802.11u - Interworking with non-802 networks
A new committee to examine the techniques that can be used
to internetwork 802.11 networks with other wireless networks
(e.g. cellular, GSM, 3GPP, WiMAX, etc.). 
Benefit: This standard will likely be the basis for multi-
connected devices, such as a mobile phone, that can select
the cheapest available topology for communication. 

802.11v - Wireless network management
The TGv (task group "v") committee will develop technology to
manage access points in a distributed or a centralized fashion.
Identifying the failures in SNMP, TGv is proposing a layer 2
solution to monitoring, managing the configuration, and
updating software of access points. 
Benefit: Updating code on hundreds of AP's with SNMP and TFTP
really stinks, hopefully this task group will create an
implementation-independent solution to managing growing
wireless networks. 

-Joshua Wright/Handler-on-Duty 
http://isc.sans.org/diary.php?date=2005-02-22