A near-me area network (NAN) is a logical communication network that focuses on communication among wireless devices in close proximity.

Unlike local area networks (LANs), in which the devices are in the same network segment and share the same broadcast domain, the devices in a NAN can belong to different proprietary network infrastructures (for example, different mobile carriers). So, even though two devices are geographically close, the communication path between them might, in fact, traverse a long distance, going from a LAN, through the Internet, and to another LAN. NAN applications focus on two-way communications among people within a certain proximity to each other, but don't generally concern themselves with those peoples exact locations.

An Internet area network (IAN) is a concept for a communications network that connects voice and data endpoints within a cloud environment over IP, replacing an existing Local Area Network (LAN), Wide Area Network (WAN) and/or Public switched telephone network (PSTN). Seen by proponents as the networking model of the future, an IAN securely connects endpoints through the public Web, so that they can communicate and exchange information and data without being tied to a physical location. Unlike a LAN, which interconnects computers in a limited area such as a home, school, computer laboratory or office building using network media, or a WAN, which is a network that covers a broad area (i.e., any telecommunications network that links across metropolitan, regional or national boundaries) using private or public network transports, the IAN eliminates a geographic profile for the network entirely because the applications and communications services have become virtualized. Endpoints need only be connected over a broadband connection to the Internet.
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