Wireless Communication: A Look At Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, 3G & WiMAX
Over the last decade, wireless technology has changed the way people do business by improving efficiency and increasing the connectivity among businesses, employees, and customers. These days it is hard to find a standard electrical device that does not include built-in Bluetooth technology or wireless transmitters.
If you are thinking of bringing wireless communication to your business, it is important to familiarize yourself with the different technologies. Here is a brief rundown of the major wireless standards:
Bluetooth Technology:
Bluetooth is a wireless networking standard that provides short-range (about 10 meters) connectivity to electrical devices such as cell phones, computers and their peripherals, notebooks, and PDA’s. Data is transmitted via small radio transmitter/receivers installed in each electronic device.
There are several benefits to using this technology. Firstly, it does away with all the wires, connectors, and attachments needed to connect your peripherals to your computer system- whether you are in the office or on the go. Next, Bluetooth technology is pretty inexpensive- which is perfect for a cash-strapped small business. This technology is also easy to use with little user input. Finally, Bluetooth devices need very little power to operate and thus are particularly suitable for data transfers among low-powered handhelds where battery life is critical.
Wi-Fi:
Wi-Fi is a wireless technology that can support a wireless Local Area Network and provides high-speed access to the Internet with data transmission rates approaching 54Mbps. The most popular Wi-Fi standard is the one used in the D-Link router, 802.11b. Wi-Fi networks operate over a limited range: 32 m (120 ft) indoors and 95 m (300 ft) outdoors. Most new laptops and desktop computers come with built-in wireless transmitters. If your equipment doesn’t support wireless communication then you can purchase a wireless adapter that plugs into the PC card slot or USB port.
Most Wi-Fi access points are run privately within homes or businesses, but there are also numerous public WiFi access points or “hotspots.” According to JiWire, Wi-Fi is currently available at more than 220,000 public hotspots and tens of millions of homes, corporations, and university campuses throughout the world.
3G:
3G is the third generation of mobile phone network standards and technologies. With 3G, network operators can offer users a wide range of advanced services within a mobile environment including: wireless voice telephony, video calls, broadband wireless data and HSPA data transmission.
In contrast to Wi-Fi, 3G networks are wide area networks, which means you can hook up from virtually anywhere- a park, a moving car, a commuter train. This added flexibility, however, comes with a higher price tag. You can expect to shell out a few hundred dollars a month on equipment and services.
WiMAX:
WiMAX is an emerging technology that provides high-throughput broadband connections to a large geographic area. Considered the successor to Wi-Fi, WiMAX provides improved performance and usage over much greater distances. WiMax supports peak data speeds of about 70mbps, with average user data rates between 1mbps and 10mbps and can be used for a number of applications, such as “last mile” broadband connections, hotspots and T1- type connections for businesses.
