Tutorial

ABC: An Introduction to Wireless

Get an overview of the promise and limitations of wireless communications

What does "wireless" mean?

Wireless means transmitting signals over invisible radio waves instead of wires. Garage door openers and television remote controls were the first wireless devices to become a part of everyday life. Now the cordless keyboard and mouse, PDAs, and digital and cellular phones are commonplace.

Wireless technologies are used for things as simple as making a phone call or as complex as letting the sales force get information from an ERP application.

Once reserved for only the most mission-critical and esoteric applications, wireless communication has entered the mainstream as vendors refine the throughput, stability, security and affordability of an ever-growing range of supported wireless applications. In the wireless world, your colleagues' whereabouts become totally transparent as you remain persistently connected with one another in real-time – even if some of your colleagues are flying cross-country. The ubiquity of wireless communication is confirmed by the results of a www.cio.com survey of CIOs:

83% of CIOs have enabled wireless access to e-mail
75% of respondents are currently undertaking a wireless project
68% said wireless is either important or somewhat important
16% cited wireless as extremely important to their current business goals
Almost 10% of CIOs are starting to pursue data-intensive wireless projects, such as access to CRM and ERP systems

For businesses, wireless technology means new ways to stay in touch with customers, suppliers and employees. The future of wireless lies in faster, more reliable methods of transferring data and, to a lesser extent, increased use of voice commands and audio improvements.

What's the difference between wireless and mobile?

Mobile just means portable. A laptop is a mobile device, as is a PDA or a cell phone. A desktop would be a mobile device if you had the inclination to carry it around with you. A wireless device has some sort of network connectivity. A cell phone is wireless, and a laptop or PDA would be wireless if they had a wireless modem. Similarly, applications are wireless when they connect and exchange data with a network.

Wireless can be divided into these categories:

Fixed wireless—the operation of wireless devices or systems in fixed locations, such as homes and offices. A typical example would be equipment connected to the Internet via specialized modems.
Mobile wireless—the use of wireless devices or systems aboard motorized, moving vehicles; examples include the automotive cell phone and personal communications services (PCS).
Portable wireless—the operation of autonomous, battery-powered wireless devices or systems outside the office, home or vehicle; examples include handheld cell phones and PCS units.
IR wireless—the use of devices that convey data via infrared radiation. Example: portable wireless devices that normally derive their power from batteries