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.

Small Businesses Are Relying on Their Smartphones

Against the backdrop of a slowing economy, skyrocketing gas prices, and a general drop in consumer confidence, small businesses have a lot to worry about these days. In response, many small business owners are training their eyes on anything that will help them to maintain their competitive edge, increase efficiency and productivity, and reduce costs.

Perhaps this is part of the impetus underlying the increasing demand for smartphones among American small businesses. According to a recent study conducted by AMI, 31% of small businesses are regularly using smartphones to access e-mail, contact information, and their mobile calenders. The study further revealed that many small businesses are already are looking into more advanced applications such as, location-based services, CRM, field force automation, and sales force automation.

According to AMI-Partners Research Analyst Yedda Chew, “…[With] the ease of smartphones like Palm Centro or the BlackBerry Pearl/Curve, these low-cost solutions are providing [small businesses] a seamless connection between business owners and their customers and employees anytime and from anywhere. What’s more, with 13% of the SB workforce being mobile, staying connected is crucial for the owner to stay abreast of his/her everyday work activities.”

In short, mobile applications allow employees to access a powerful combination of inventory data, customer relationship information, and other company-wide knowledge. It is no stretch to say that mobile technology is changing the way small businesses do business.

The Case for Connectivity: Why Small Businesses Need to Invest in IT

I have written several posts about topics in business technology including the hyperconnected workforce, the use of open source software, methods of teleconferencing, and recently a brief primer on smartphones for the uninitiated.

Among all of these posts there is a central theme: Small businesses are operating in a world where Information Technology is extensively changing the way people live and work. The emergence of Web 2.0 and the proliferation of versatile mobile devices supports a culture of instant information and global connection. People are not only itching to share both themselves and their knowledge with the world, but they want their own queries to be fulfilled efficiently and accurately.

Small businesses should take note. In order to run a successful business these days, it is essential that you get a foothold in several key areas, namely:

• The Internet. Don’t underestimate the power of the Web on your bottom line. A Web presence, no matter how small or basic will let online users know that you exist. Even if you do not have a website, it is essential that you register your business by any local search engines as well as relevant Point of Interest databases.

• Mobile Technology. This is extremely important if your small business has employees who do field work (work outside of the office) or who frequently go on business trips. According to research conducted last year by Aberdeen Group, 48% of nearly 700 respondents stated that the challenge of managing a decentralized workforce was a prime motivation behind investment in mobile business solutions, while 33% stated that the motivation stemmed from trying to reduce operational costs.

• Software as a service (SaaS). On-demand software (also called software-as-a-service or SaaS) may be the perfect solution for many small businesses that are lacking the infrastructure to effectively operate various aspects of a business such to payroll processing, and reporting on sales and marketing. These software applications that are leased over the Web or to mobile devices from an outside vendor. There are also industry-specific SaaS programs designed to help businesses operated more efficiently.

• Proper data security. To be successful these days small businesses need to know how to properly protect any sensitive business data and customer information including as names, social security numbers, pin numbers and access codes. You can do this by installing up-to-date anti-virus software on all computers, setting up a corporate firewall, securing your mobile devices, and making sure that you have a reliable method of data backup.

Top 5 Tech Trends Small Businesses Should Watch for in 2008

The world of technology is a dizzying sea of ever-evolving applications, platforms and devices- each promising to change the way we integrate technology into our personal and professional lives.

While big corporations may have the resources to test the waters of emerging technologies and thus place themselves at the cutting edge, small businesses with their limited resources are often left to wade through the currents with little sense of direction.

Many claim that small businesses cannot afford to pass up on these industry-shaping trends, while others suggest that they be ignored- at least for now.

But the truth is, that while small businesses should certainly take note of the following trends in business technology, the answer to how much to invest in them will really depend on the particular nature of each small business and the resources available to it.

1. Mobile technology is spreading its wings. The emergence of sophisticated mobile devices, such as the iPhone and Blackberry Curve, and an eminent explosion of mobile software applications promises small businesses greater flexibility, effciency, and coordination that will help maximize resources and create growth opportunities. Small businesses will increasingly rely on their smartphones for unified communications, network synchronization, and location-based services.

2. Software as a service (SaaS) creates opportunities. On-demand software (also called software-as-a-service or SaaS) refers to software applications that are leased over the Web or to mobile devices from an outside vendor, such as NetSuite. These hosted software applications provide the infrastructure needed to effectively and efficiently operate various aspects of a business- from sales and marketing reports, to payroll processing, and a slew of location-based services, such as Vettro’s application for mobile devices that helps utility crews and excavators navigate around buried cables and pipelines.

3. Social Networking and virtual societies. There has been a lot of speculation regarding the earning potential of social networking sites such as, Facebook and MySpace as well as virtual societies, such as Secondlife. What is certain, however, is that these sites offer a new way for small and mid-size businesses to connect with their customers and employees. Retail companies, for example, can create a virtual store, to monitor how many people it attracts and how these people interact with the space.

4. Going Green Tech-style. Much of the hottest techonology today not only helps the environment by reducing the use of utilities and the need to travel, but it also increases employee productivity, efficiencey, and job satisfaction. The use of audio, video and Web conferencing services often reduces the need for business travel, in addition to cutting down carbon emissions. Location-based services for mobile devices also improves the efficiency of operations on the road by effectively directing travelers to their destinations and thereby reducing fuel consumption. Businesses are moving away from paper invoices, statements, letters, and memos in favor of paperless options, such as e-faxes and e-mail.

5. Data Storage. Many small businesses these days need a significant amount of storage to hold their digital assets and information. In response, companies such as Amazon.com (S3 Simple Storage Service) and AOL (XDrive.com) are offering businesses online storage solutions for their web applications. Google is also expected to enter the fray with a “Google Drive.” There are many smaller companies offering storage services, such as Box.net and ElephantDrive.com. Many of these storage services offer up to 25 GBs for free with additional storage and features costing from $2 to $10 per month Some of these companies also offer advanced features such as versioning, personal encryption keys and multiple user log-ins.