The Essential Guide to Wireless Communications Applications

by Dornan, Andy

• ISBN13: 9780130097187
• ISBN10: 0130097187
• Edition: 2nd
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2002-05-06
• Publisher: Prentice Hall

Summary

The #1 nontechnical guide to wireless: updated for the latest technologies and business realities. bull; bull;#1 nontechnical guide to wireless technology! bull;Fully updated to reflect the newest wireless technologies and business realities bull;New coverage of 3.5G and 4G wireless systems, WLANs, and other key advances bull;Today's-and tomorrow's-most profitable mobile commerce applications introduced bull;Specific, up-to-the-minute wireless buying advice bull;New chapter on the health issues surrounding wireless bull;An ideal resource for decision makers; marketing, PR, and sales professionals; investors; and business consumers Now, the #1 nontechnical guide to next-generation wireless applications has been fully updated for tomorrow's most important technologies-and today's most critical business realities. Network magazine editor Andy Dornan reviews every new wireless development that matters-from 3.5G networks to profitable m-commerce applications, WLANs to very-high-bandWIDTH wireless optics. You'll find detailed, up-to-the-minute coverage of: bull; bull;The realities of wireless economics-including the most promising opportunities in tough markets bull;3G systems and their limitations-and the promise of tomorrow's 3.5G and 4G technologies bull;Real-world, business-focused guidance on purchasing cell phones and service bull;State-of-the-art mobile commerce: including security, payment systems, and today's most innovative, successful applications bull;Leading mobile OS platforms: Blackberry, Pocket PC, Tablet PC, Palm, and beyond bull;WLANs: the next revolution in wireless Internet access? bull;Multimedia messaging, T-Rays, space-based Internet access, and other advanced technologies bull;Up-to-the-minute, objective assessment of the health issues surrounding wireless Whether you're an investor, sales or marketing professional, manager, consultant, or consumer, Andy Dornan delivers all the information you need to identify your best wireless opportunities-and take advantage of them!

Author Biography

ANDY DORNAN is an award-winning Senior Editor specializing in wireless technology at Network magazine in San Francisco, CA. He has covered advanced wireless technologies for publications ranging from Red Herring to Wired.

Table of Contents

Preface	ix
Acknowledgments	xiii
The Wireless World	1	(18)
Cutting the Cables	4	(6)
Network Philosophies	5	(2)
Cell Phone Generations	7	(3)
From the 20s to the 2000s	10	(4)
The Wireless Economy	10	(1)
Visions of the Future	11	(3)
Buying a Cell Phone	14	(4)
Posers	15	(1)
Globalization	15	(3)
Summary	18	(1)
Radio Spectrum	19	(36)
Radio 101	20	(9)
Radio and Radiation	23	(1)
Bands	24	(2)
Microwaves	26	(1)
Noise and Interference	27	(1)
The Multipath Problem	28	(1)
Analog versus Digital	29	(5)
Advantages of Digital	30	(2)
Voice versus Data	32	(2)
AM and FM	34	(4)
Amplitude Modulation	34	(2)
Frequency Modulation	36	(1)
Phase-Shift Keying	37	(1)
Polarization	37	(1)
Spectrum Regulation	38	(7)
The International Telecommunications Union	39	(1)
Regional Licenses	40	(3)
Service-Specific versus Open Licenses	43	(1)
Standards Bodies	44	(1)
Licensing Methods	45	(9)
Beauty Contest	46	(1)
Lottery	46	(1)
Auctions	47	(3)
Free-For-All	50	(2)
Who Owns the Airwaves?	52	(2)
Summary	54	(1)
Cellular Networks	55	(34)
Cells	56	(4)
Microcells	58	(1)
Handoff	58	(2)
Effect of Frequency	60	(1)
Two-Way Communication	60	(2)
Paired Spectrum	60	(1)
TDD	61	(1)
Multiplexing	62	(5)
Frequency	62	(2)
Space	64	(2)
Time	66	(1)
Spread Spectrum and CDMA	67	(9)
Frequency Hopping	68	(1)
Direct Sequence	68	(3)
Ultra-Wideband	71	(1)
OFDM	72	(4)
Location Tracking	76	(4)
Triangulation	76	(2)
GPS Phones	78	(1)
Assisted GPS	79	(1)
Audio Coding	80	(6)
Wave Form Sampling	81	(1)
Vocoding	82	(1)
Hybrid Codecs	83	(1)
Music and Streaming	84	(2)
Summary	86	(3)
PCS Standards	89	(32)
Cellular Voice and Data	91	(19)
GSM	93	(4)
HSCSD	97	(1)
GPRS	98	(4)
D-AMPS	102	(3)
PDC/JDC	105	(1)
D-AMPS+	106	(1)
cdmaOne	106	(2)
cdmaTwo	108	(1)
GTE Airfone	109	(1)
Packet Data Systems	110	(5)
Paging	111	(1)
CDPD	112	(1)
Mobitex	113	(1)
Data TAC	113	(1)
Ricochet	114	(1)
Private Mobile Radio	115	(4)
TETRA	116	(1)
iDEN	117	(2)
Summary	119	(2)
Third-Generation Standards	121	(28)
IMT-2000	124	(10)
3G Defined	126	(1)
Service Requirements	126	(4)
Spectrum Requirements	130	(3)
Compatibility	133	(1)
W-CDMA	134	(5)
TD-CDMA	135	(1)
Umts and Foma	136	(2)
Upgrading to 3.5G	138	(1)
CDMA2000	139	(3)
1xMC/1 xRTT	140	(1)
1 x Enhanced Version	140	(2)
3xMC/3xRTT	142	(1)
EDGE	142	(2)
Enhanced GPRS	143	(1)
EDGE Compact	144	(1)
Reality Check	144	(2)
Summary	146	(3)
Mobile Data Services	149	(32)
Messaging	150	(9)
Short Messages	152	(1)
Cell Broadcast	153	(1)
Unstructured Services	153	(1)
Enhanced and Smart Messaging	154	(1)
Multimedia Messaging	155	(1)
Applications of Messaging	156	(1)
Instant Messaging	157	(1)
The SIM Toolkit	158	(1)
The Wireless Web	159	(7)
HTML	161	(2)
Compact HTML	163	(1)
Web Clipping	163	(1)
HDML	164	(1)
XML	165	(1)
WAP and i-mode	166	(8)
WAP Protocols	167	(3)
Bearers	170	(1)
Architecture	170	(2)
i-mode Security	172	(1)
Java and BREW	172	(2)
Site Design	174	(5)
C-HTML Pages	175	(1)
WAP Decks	176	(3)
Summary	179	(2)
M-Commerce	181	(34)
M-Business Plans	183	(11)
Comparison Shopping	185	(1)
Banking	186	(2)
Advertising	188	(1)
Content	189	(1)
Location-Specific Services	190	(1)
Streaming Media	191	(1)
Games	192	(1)
Voice Portals	192	(2)
Billing	194	(8)
Interconnection	194	(1)
The Accounting Rate System	195	(1)
Mobility	195	(3)
Roaming	198	(1)
Present Pricing Strategies	199	(1)
Future Pricing Strategies	200	(1)
Payment Plans	201	(1)
Cellular Security	202	(11)
Encryption	202	(2)
Authentication	204	(1)
Wireless Portals	205	(2)
Viruses and Malware	207	(3)
Cloning	210	(1)
Theft	211	(2)
Summary	213	(2)
Inside a Mobile Network	215	(30)
The Air Link	216	(2)
Subscriber Units	217	(1)
Base Stations	217	(1)
Voice Infrastructure	218	(4)
Station Controllers	219	(1)
Switching Centers	219	(2)
Trunking	221	(1)
Gateways	221	(1)
Data Infrastructure	222	(6)
Packet Control	223	(1)
Serving Support	223	(1)
The GPRS Backbone	224	(1)
The Gateway Node	224	(1)
Optional GPRS Infrastructure	225	(1)
GPRS Roaming	226	(1)
Wired Access Points	227	(1)
Server-Side Equipment	228	(5)
WAP Gateways and Servers	229	(1)
Unbundling and Virtual Networks	229	(1)
Mobile E-Mail Gateways	230	(3)
The Internet	233	(9)
Internet Protocol Version 4	233	(2)
The IP Address Shortage	235	(1)
Mobile IP	235	(1)
Internet Protocol Version 6	236	(1)
Voice Over IP	237	(5)
Summary	242	(3)
Short-Range Wireless Networks	245	(40)
Unlicensed Spectrum	246	(3)
ISM	246	(1)
License-Free Radio	247	(2)
Light	249	(1)
Wireless LANs	249	(19)
Wireless LAN Standards	251	(1)
Wi-Fi (IEEE 802.11b)	252	(4)
Wi-Fi5 (IEEE 802.11a)	256	(3)
ETSI HiperLan	259	(1)
HomeRF	260	(1)
Access Points	260	(2)
Hubs versus Switches	262	(1)
Security	262	(2)
WEP and TKIP	264	(2)
Other 802.11 Standards	266	(2)
Cordless Telephony	268	(3)
Telepoint	268	(1)
Standards	269	(1)
Picocells	269	(2)
IrDA	271	(1)
Types of IrDA	271	(1)
Infrared LANs	272	(1)
Bluetooth	272	(7)
Technology	273	(2)
Profiles	275	(3)
Applications	278	(1)
Fourth Generation	279	(4)
BRAN	280	(1)
Public Access Wireless LANs	280	(3)
Summary	283	(2)
Phones or Computers?	285	(28)
Future Phones	286	(6)
Wearable Computers	288	(1)
Smartphones	289	(1)
Tablets	290	(1)
Clamshells	291	(1)
Subnotebooks	291	(1)
Mobile Operating Systems	292	(8)
Symbian	293	(1)
PalmOS	294	(1)
Windows CE and Pocket PC	294	(1)
Linux	295	(3)
Real-Time Operating Systems	298	(1)
Microbrowser Wars	299	(1)
PDA Hardware	300	(7)
Processor	300	(1)
Memory	301	(1)
Interfaces	302	(2)
Power Consumption	304	(1)
Batteries	305	(2)
User Input	307	(4)
Keyboards	307	(1)
Predictive Text Input	308	(1)
Handwriting Recognition	309	(2)
Summary	311	(2)
Fixed Wireless Technology	313	(22)
Wireless Local Loop	314	(10)
Spread Spectrum	316	(1)
MMDS and 802.16a	317	(2)
LMDS and 802.16	319	(1)
Competing Technologies	320	(4)
Point-to-Point Microwave	324	(5)
Licensed	325	(1)
Unlicensed	326	(1)
The W-Band	326	(1)
T-Rays	327	(1)
Network Architecture	328	(1)
Free Space Optics	329	(4)
Optical Networking	330	(1)
Laser	330	(2)
Wireless Circuit Boards	332	(1)
Summary	333	(2)
Internet in Space	335	(26)
Orbits	337	(5)
Geostationary	338	(1)
Medium Orbit	339	(1)
Low Orbit	340	(1)
Elliptical	341	(1)
VSATs	342	(8)
The VSAT Industry	343	(1)
Traditional VSAT Architecture	344	(2)
One-Way Data Systems	346	(1)
Internet by Satellite	346	(2)
Onboard Switches	348	(2)
Super VSATs	350	(1)
Mobile (LEO) Satellite Systems	350	(7)
Mobile Satellite Telephony	352	(1)
MSS and IMT-2000	353	(2)
Navigation	355	(1)
Non-Space Networks	356	(1)
Mobile Satellite Telemetry	356	(1)
Mars Online	357	(2)
Summary	359	(2)
Do Wireless Devices Fry Your Brain?	361	(22)
Theory	362	(9)
Microwave Heating	363	(2)
Power Density	365	(1)
The Inverse-Square Law	366	(2)
Absorption in the Body	368	(2)
Nonthermal Effects	370	(1)
Experimental Research	371	(4)
The Scientific Method	371	(2)
Test Results	373	(1)
Protection	374	(1)
Other Wireless Hazards	375	(6)
Don't Talk and Drive	375	(3)
Stay Out of Touch	378
Know Where You Are	377	(4)
Summary	381	(2)
Glossary	383	(16)
Index	399

Excerpts

Preface The first cell phone I ever saw was the size of a small television set. It needed an antenna to match, and a battery that now would look more at home in a car. While this could theoretically last ten hours between charges, actually making calls reduced its lifetime to minutes. The cellular network itself was equally primitive, with coverage so poor that I often had to lean out of a window in order to pick up a signal. The whole system was so unreliable that mobile phones often seemed more like expensive toys than a serious means of communication, and indeed they were often sold as such. Their high cost-a minute''s talk time cost around an hour''s salary-made them popular status symbols. People would clip phones to their belts as a way to show off how rich and important they were (or believed themselves to be). I''d bought mine for the opposite reason: My crumbling flat in Notting Hill wasn''t able to support a landline, and I reasoned that even an expensive and erratic connection was better than nothing. When the building eventually caught fire, I wasted valuable seconds giving directions to the emergency services operator: Mobile phones aren''t mapped to addresses in the same way as landlines, so as far as she knew, I could have been anywhere in the country. A decade later, I again had to make an emergency call from a mobile phone. This time, the emergency operator was able to determine which part of San Francisco I was in, thanks to equipment that automatically relayed the location of the cellular base station I was closest to. Had I been in Tokyo, it would have been able to do even more, pinpointing my exact latitude and longitude. Such systems are on their way to other parts of the world, prompted both by regulations designed to enhance public safety and by a commercial imperative to offer location-based services. They also raise obvious privacy and security fears, as do several other aspects of wireless networking. What''s New The ability to pinpoint a location to within a few meters is just one of the new technologies that have emerged since the first edition of this book. Though it was published only two years ago, wireless is such a fast-moving industry that a lot has changed in this time. The idea that people who have telephone wires leading to their homes will willingly rely on a mobile as their primary phone no longer seems absurd. Nor does the idea of surfing the Web while sitting under a tree, or watching TV streamed across the Internet from the other side of the world while riding a bus. As a result, I have totally rewritten much of this book, adding new sections and figures to every chapter. Other new developments since the first edition include Ultra Wideband, which is still in its infancy but may soon allow very high-speed data transmission over short distances, and T-Rays, a type of link that mixes the qualities of light with those of radio. The most significant is the growth of wireless Local Area Networks (LANs), which now appear to be playing a greater role in the wireless future than many had once thought. Amidst the dotcom and telecom busts of 2001, Wi-Fi (IEEE 802.11b) was a great success story. Its successor could even form the basis of fourth-generation systems, which unlike so much else in the wireless world might actually arrive ahead of schedule. For computer geeks like me, this is a welcome change. A wireless LAN is something that individual people can set up and tinker with at relatively low cost, not a service provided by a giant corporation and licensed by the government. Of course, most people don''t want to construct their own networks, so the technology still has a way to go. I''ve tried to look at how it will develop, as well as explain the competing standards and what each can do. Not every change in those two years has been positive for the wireless industry: Though technology advanced, the economy collapsed, and many companies that planned or built wireless networks have fallen into bankruptcy. (I particularly miss Metricom and its Ricochet system.) New sections in Chapters 1 and 7 deal with the realities of the wireless business, which is actually surprisingly resistant to wider economic recession and even depression. As well as all these revisions, there is one new chapter, examining the possible health risks of wireless communications. Though radiation from a cell phone is unlikely to be the "new smoking" as some alarmists claim, mounting evidence since the first edition suggests that it is not entirely risk-free. I personally have not decided to limit my use of cell phones and wireless data devices, but then I also drink beer and ride a bicycle without a helmet (though not at the same time). You may reach a different conclusion. Wireless devices also bring about other safety and social problems: Regardless of any effects from radiation, it''s now clear that using a cell phone while driving can kill. About This Book Most of us form some kind of picture in our mind when we talk to someone on the phone. We usually still imagine them sitting at a desk or lounging on a sofa, but those pictures are no longer true. Dial a number in some European countries, and the chances are that it will reach a wireless phone. The person you talk to could be sailing in Lake Geneva, trekking across Lapland, or just walking down any city street. Soon we won''t have to imagine. The phone companies are already demonstrating wireless videophones that double as pen-based computers-and that''s just the start. The very term cell "phone" is itself becoming outdated, as the latest mobile data terminals are already able to more than just transmit voice. Visionaries predict mobile links as good as those that office computer users enjoy, enabling high-speed Internet access, responsive networked applications, and crystal-clear video. Even more exciting are the new applications unique to mobile devices: location-based maps, personalized weather forecasts, even real-time medical monitoring. Electronic currency could allow a cell phone to become a virtual wallet, transmitting the equivalent of cash to stores both in the real world and online. Marketers refer to all these applications as the "wireless Web," a somewhat empty phrase. It is both as meaningless and as promising as the "Information Superhighway" of nearly a decade ago. The Essential Guide to Wireless Communications Applicationsis designed to look beyond the hype, examining just what is and isn''t possible with present-day and future wireless systems. It is primarily focused on the applications, but a proper understanding of these requires a look at the underlying technology. For example, the first version of WAP promoted a backlash among European users because it had been promoted as equivalent to the wired Internet. If the PR people had understood the technology and been more honest, it might have seemed less of a disappointment. This book is intended for anyone who wants (or needs) to learn about the new wave of wireless networks. It will introduce you to all the most important wireless technologies, then explore their likely impact on both commerce and culture. Structure Each chapter is intended to stand alone, though the whole book should also make sense when read from beginning to end. Readers who already know a bit about the technology, or who are entirely technophobic, may wish to skip some parts of Chapters 2 to 5. These explain in detail how the first, second, third, and now fourth generations of cellular systems work, including the type of applications that each is best suited to as well as the financial and regulatory problems in their way. Chapters 6 and 7 focus solely on the applications, looking at the types of services available from each system today and tomorrow. They also take a look at the hard econom