As Wireless Fidelity (WiFi) becomes the popular choice for networking, so does the supporting product and services. The ‘new’ technologies are designed to improve the user’s experience of WiFi in the work, home, educational and commercial environment.
‘Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access’ (WiMax) is the next step from WiFi, and refers to any broadband wireless access network based on the new IEEE 802.16 standard (O’Hara 2004). It is the technology that proposes to bring wireless high-speed connections to much greater areas then WiFi is capable of (Diaz and Takahashi 2004). WiMax also shares data rates much faster then WiFi, though WiMax uses a fixed infrastructure making it non mobile. As it is a high-speed wireless network it requires relatively high-gain antannas.
Whilst WiFi is the popular choice for internet connection it is not always available in some areas and this can be problematic for traveling high end users. One solution is Roaming Internet Service Provider (ISP) that offers users multiple connection options (standard dial-up, WiFi and wired broadband) through a single service and interface. (Kamins 2004)
ZigBee is a low cost, low power technology used for wireless sensors and controls. It is based on the IEEE 802.15.4 specification and is more of a home innovation that has moderately slow data rate capabilities. Its been suggested that ZigBee could be beneficial in monitoring the home environment, by controlling lighting, heating and air conditioning (Smith 2004).
'Always on Wireless’ has produced a product called WiFlyer, it is a network base station that provides users with a wireless way to connect to the internet. WiFlyer is plugged in and hooked up to a phone line and functions as a wireless access point for computers and does not require connection software. WiFlyer uses a built in 56k modem and is designed to establish internet connections more quickly, it also has an encryption and WiFi Protected Access making the WiFlyer more secure (Gnatek 2004).
Airports 2004, ‘Concourse to Equip Ottawa Airport with WiFi’, September 28, vol. 21, issue. 39, p. 3.
Gnatek, T 2004, ‘A wireless access point from your phone line’, New York Times, October 14, p. 3.
Kamins, T 2004, ‘Internet Service that goes anywhere’, New York Times, October, p. 5.
O’Hara, B 2004, ‘Will WiMax make WiFi obsolete?’, Network World Fusion, viewed 22 October 2004. http://www.nwfusion.com/columnists/2004/0112wizards.html
Smith, B 2004,’Wireless Key to home of the future’, Wireless Week, vol. 10, September, p. 20.
Jillian Hodgson 09:52, 29 Oct 2004 (EST)
