Wireless LAN technology has grown rapidly in importance over the last two years, because it fills a real user need at a cost the user can afford. This paper firstly provides a brief description of the main technology used for wireless LANs today. We then consider applications of wireless LAN technologies, including wireless hot-spots, home and corporate networks. One key focus is on the issue of interworking between wireless LAN (WLAN) and 2G/3G networks, which is a means of giving BT an opportunity to provide mobile services without owning any regulated spectrum. Consideration of other potential applications, including ad hoc community networks and real-time services, demonstrates that currently WLAN technology cannot meet all future requirements; we therefore also examine technology developments that address these specific problems.