Wireless Technology Basics

12/26/2000
By Tiffany Blaine for ITtoolbox Wireless

What is Wireless?
The term wireless refers to telecommunication technology, in which radio waves, infrared waves and microwaves, instead of cables or wires, are used to carry a signal to connect communication devices. These devices include pagers, cell phones, portable PCs, computer networks, location devices, satellite systems and handheld digital assistants. Wirelesss technology is rapidly evolving, and is playing an ever-increasing role in the lives of people throughout the world.

Benefits of Wireless technology
Wireless technology enables users to physically move while using an appliance, such as a handheld PC, paging device, or phone. Without the physical connection of cables or wires, this technology allows users to check stocks and email from their internet-enabled telephone, conduct m-commerce, which is the online purchasing of goods while in transit, and even watch television on a portable PC.

Many fields today such as healthcare, law enforcement, field service, and emergency care require mobility of workers. Wireless networking makes it possible to place portable computers in their hands. It is very useful when employees must process information on the spot, directly in front of customers and patients, or share real-time information.

Wireless networking is rising with the ever-increasing need for businesses to lower costs and support mobility of workers. Compared with wired networking, wireless capability offers more timeliness, affordability, and efficiency. When performing installations, there are many tangible cost savings with using less wire between the user’s appliance and a server. If rivers, freeways, or other obstacles stand in the way of a connection, a wireless solution may be much more economical than installing physical cable. Wires and connectors can easily break through misuse and normal wear and tear. Using less cable reduces the downtime of the network and the costs associated with replacing cables, and makes the network available for use much sooner.

Wireless Systems
There are a wide-range of wireless devices that implement radio frequency (RF) to carry the communication signal. Some wireless systems operate at infrared frequencies, whose electromagnetic wavelengths are shorter than those of RF fields. Wireless systems can be divided into fixed, portable, and IR wireless systems.

A Fixed wireless system uses radio frequencies requiring a line of sight for connection. Unlike cellular and other mobile wireless systems, they use fixed antennas with narrowly focused beams. Fixed wireless systems can be used for almost anything that a cable is used for, such as high-speed internet connection, and satellite television connection. Technology has brought higher radio frequencies with broader bandwidth that can carry more information, and require smaller antennas, resulting in lower costs and easier to deploy systems.

A Portable wireless system is a device or system, usually battery-powered, that is used outside the office, home, or vehicle. Examples include handheld cellular phones, portable computers, paging devices, and personal digital assistants (PDAs), which operate through microwaves and radio waves.

An IR wireless system uses infrared radiation to send signals within a limited-range of communication. These systems are commonly used in television remote-control boxes, motion detectors, and cordless computer keyboards and mice. With progressing new technologies, IR wireless systems can now connect notebook computers and desktop computers used within the same local area network (LAN) workstation, which will heavily impact the way we conduct meetings, presentations, and daily business, at the office.

Brief History of Wireless
The first wireless transmitters went on the air in the early 20th century using radiotelegraphy (Morse code). Soon after, information was then added to the signal carriers, a process known as modulation. This made it possible to transmit voices and music via wireless, the medium which came to be called "radio." With the advent of television, fax, data communication, and the effective use of a larger portion of the spectrum, the term "wireless" has been revived.

Market Leaders
Some key players in the wireless market include Wireless Carriers and Internet Service Providers such as AT&T, Verizon, WorldCom, OmniSky, and GoAmerica. Wireless device vendors leading the way are Motorola, Nokia, Ericsson, Handspring, and Palm. Software providers include Microsoft and Oracle, with Phone.com and 724 Solutions leading the wireless software developer industry. And not to be forgotten, the emerging class of Professional Wireless Service Providers which include firms like Razorfish and Agency.com. Other leaders include Nortel Networks, Lucent, Voicestream, and Cisco.

Future of Wireless
3rd Generation Wireless, or 3G, is the term used for the next generation of wireless or mobile communications systems. 3G systems aim to provide enhanced voice, text and data services to each user. The third generation networks should support real-time video, high-speed multimedia and mobile Internet access. IDC forecasts that by 2004, there will be over 29 million mobile commerce (m-commerce) subscribers in the US, up from less than half a million subscribers in 2000. The META Group forecasts that Internet-enabled mobile devices will outnumber PCs by 2003. In addition, IBM is forecasting that the total wireless solutions and services market will reach $83 billion by 2003.