In recent years, a wide variety of mobile computing devices have emerged, including palmtops, personal digital assistants, and portable computers. While the first portables were designed as stand-alone machines, many of these new devices are intended to function as full network citizens. Consequently, a new generation of wireless network technology is needed to provide adequate network cormectivitY for these mobile devices. In particular, wireless local area networks (LAN’s) are expected to be a crucial enabling technology in traditional office settings where such mobile devices will be initially, and most heavily, utilized.