An Introduction to Wireless Technology, Second Edition

inexpensive portable PCs allow users to take their information and tools with

them. The need to share information and resources among personal computer

users has spawned the spread of local area networks (LANs), which in turn have

required wire-based connections. The use of copper wires limits user flexibility

to move freely within the office environment. Growth in client/server

applications has made unfettered connectivity between workstations and other

network resources very attractive.

The marriage of wireless communications and mobile computing will transform

the way we do business. The convergence of hardware, software,

communications and wireless technologies will ensure that information and

services will be available to computer users at all times, in all places. Many

different wireless communication technologies currently support hundreds of

services. Cellular and cordless phones, pagers, portable computers, mobile

radio units, and vehicle tracking units all use a wide range of protocols and

transport options. Future portable products such as Personal Digital Assistants

(PDAs) or Personal Intelligent Communicators (PICs) will combine separate voice

and data functions in compact portable packages. The communications

technologies will provide a choice of communications methods with several

wired and wireless options available in a single device, automatically selected

for the most appropriate method according to the kind of information transfer

required, the physical location of the device, and the needs of the user.

1.1 Why Is Wireless Technology Important?

Wireless communication is growing at an explosive rate around the world. In the

United States alone, the number of cellular telephones grew ten-fold from one

million in mid-1987 to 10 million in 1993; 180,000 cellular phones are being sold

each month. The number of cellular subscribers worldwide in 1994 was 52

million. In Europe, the highest penetration of cellular phones is in Sweden. With

a population of only 8 million people, more than one person in ten has a cellular

phone. There are some 50 million cordless telephones in use; satellite paging

systems (a small fraction of all paging systems) are projected to grow from $90

million in 1992 revenue to $500 million in 1995. Cellular phones have changed

from heavy automobile-mounted devices to shirt pocket portables weighing the

same as a pocket diary. The many emerging mobile end-user devices will

become “information appliances”.

Wireless products and services in the 1990s are forecasted to be an even bigger

revolution than the personal computer (PC) and local area network (LAN) were

in the 1980s. The mobility offered by wireless technology will be used to allow

businesses to optimize their use of employee time, become more competitive,

make better business decisions and provide better customer service. As a

result, many businesses will dramatically restructure their operations to more

effectively take advantage of wireless benefits. Therefore, industry will truly be

looking to install wireless solutions as a major step towards running businesses

profitably.

Cutting-edge companies today are capitalizing on time as a critical component of

competitive advantage. The way leading companies manage time in new

product development, product introduction and production, as well as in sales,

distribution and service, represent the most powerful new source of competitive

advantage. By reducing the consumption of time in every aspect of business,

companies reduce costs, improve quality and stay closer to their customers.

2 An Introduction to Wireless Technology