802.11b is an extension of the 802.11 wireless network standard from 1997. 802.11b was ratified 1999 and is also called Wi-Fi or WLAN. 802.11b works at 2.4GHz and includes speeds up to 11 Mbit (with fallback to 5.5, 2 and 1 Mbit) using DSSS.
If you plan to deploy a wireless network you should read WirelessNetworking?, WirelessNetworkSecurityHowto and WirelessNetworkSecurityNotes. And beware of people WarDriving or WarWalking in your area, but they shouldn't pose any big threat if you done your homework properly, atleast start with enabling WEP and change the default passwords.
see also 802.11g
Read more at:
10 pages link to 802.11b:
O'reilly