Wireless communications are becoming increasingly popular in today's fast paced world. Mobility, portability, and instant access (via the Internet) to unlimited information have become the mantra of businesses and individuals alike. The evolution of wireless communications has been incredibly quick and the future of this technology is unlimited. The impact of this technology on our lives will be tremendous and allow us to do things we never imagined. .
What Is Wireless Communication? .
The two main wireless services in use today are cellular and private packet radio. The service that is chosen will depend on the application(s) that a company or individual wants to run. .
Cellular .
Cellular technology is commonplace in both the business and private sector. .
There are two types of cellular technology: 1) circuit-switched cellular, and 2) Cellular Digital Packet Data (CDPD). One of circuit-switched cellular's biggest advantages is its nationwide availability. Another advantage is the ability to send voice and data over the cellular phone network. Circuit-switched cellular is ideal if the application requires the exchange of long text messages, large files, or faxes because it typically charges by the minute of connect time, not by the number of bytes transferred. A practical application for this technology is the transfer of data from a laptop by means of a cellular modem and phone. The initial cost to outfit a laptop to connect to a cellular network is about $400. A disadvantage of this type of service is the long set-up time each connection requires (about 30 seconds). .
Cellular Digital Packet Data is best suited for transaction processing and database queries. This service offers fast call setup (about 5 seconds), and is inexpensive for short messages, such as sending e-mail. The main disadvantages of CDPD are the expense of large file transfers, and the limited availability of the service (currently it is available in about 40 cities nationwide).