| Wireless Technology: | | | | such as current Belkin and Netgear WiFi phones. |
| About Wireless Connection: | | | | Several cellular carriers have created "Dual-mode |
| Wireless network refers to any type of | | | | phones" to compete with WiFi Phones, which can |
| computer network that is wireless, and is | | | | be easily switched between using a WiFi |
| commonly associated with a telecommunications | | | | connection when one is available and a traditional |
| network whose interconnections between nodes | | | | cellular network connection when WiFi is not |
| is implemented without the use of wires, such as | | | | available. |
| a computer network. | | | | ? Advantage Sides: |
| Wireless Connectivity Types: | | | | It's fast. |
| Wireless LAN: Wireless Local Area Network | | | | Wi-Fi's latest version is many times faster than |
| (WLAN) is similar to other wireless devices and | | | | DSL or cable connections, and literally hundreds of |
| uses radio instead of wires to transmit data back | | | | times faster than those old dial-up connections. |
| and forth between computers on the same | | | | That's particularly handy when you're working on |
| network. | | | | the run, on the road, or from home: If you've |
| • Wi-Fi: Wi-Fi is a commonly used wireless | | | | ever watched seconds tick by while watching |
| network in computer systems which enable | | | | Web pages load, you'll appreciate the potential |
| connection to the internet or other machines that | | | | productivity gain. |
| have Wi-Fi functionalities. Wi-Fi networks | | | | It's convenient. |
| broadcast radio waves that can be picked up by | | | | As soon as a Wi-Fi-equipped device is within range |
| Wi-Fi receivers that are attached to different | | | | of a base station, it's online. With no wires, you |
| computers or mobile phones. | | | | can move your laptop computer from place to |
| • Fixed Wireless Data: Fixed wireless data is a | | | | place -- for instance, from your office to a |
| type of wireless data network that can be used | | | | conference room down the hall, without losing |
| to connect two or more buildings together in | | | | your network connection. When traveling, you can |
| order to extend or share the network bandwidth | | | | set up shop anyplace equipped with a Wi-Fi |
| without physically wiring the buildings together. | | | | network: another company's office, a hotel room, |
| ? Wi-Fi Technology: | | | | or a convention center. |
| The purpose of Wi-Fi is to hide complexity by | | | | It's everywhere. |
| enabling wireless access to applications and data, | | | | Public Wi-Fi access sites -- or "hot spots" -- are |
| media and streams. The main aims of Wi-Fi are: | | | | multiplying faster than rabbits on Viagra. They're in |
| • Enable access to information easily | | | | bookstores, airport lounges, fast-food restaurants |
| • Ensure compatibility and coexistence | | | | (including some McDonald's and Schlotzky's Deli |
| • Get rid of cabling and wiring | | | | outlets), and coffee shops. In addition, local |
| • Get rid of switches, adapters, plugs and | | | | merchants from Cincinnati to Athens, Ga., to |
| connectors. | | | | Portland, Ore., are footing the bill for bigger hot |
| ? Uses of Wi-Fi: | | | | spots, accessible throughout a business district or |
| A Wi-Fi enabled device such as a PC, game | | | | neighborhood. |
| console, cell phone, MP3 player or PDA can | | | | ? Drawbacks: |
| connect to the Internet when within range of a | | | | Range: |
| wireless network connected to the Internet. The | | | | Wi-Fi networks have limited range. A typical Wi-Fi |
| coverage of one or more interconnected access | | | | home router using 802.11b or 802.11g with a stock |
| points called a hotspot can comprise an area as | | | | antenna might have a range of 32 m (120 ft) |
| small as a single room with wireless-opaque walls | | | | indoors and 95 m (300 ft) outdoors. Range also |
| or as large as many square miles covered by | | | | varies with frequency band. |
| overlapping access points. Wi-Fi technology has | | | | Although you lose the wires, you're still limited to |
| served to set up mesh networks. | | | | the base station's range, typically 75 to 150 feet |
| Wi-Fi also allows connectivity in peer-to-peer | | | | indoors and a few hundred feet outdoors, |
| (wireless ad-hoc network) mode, which enables | | | | depending on equipment, radio frequency, and |
| devices to connect directly with each other. This | | | | obstructions. |
| connectivity mode can prove useful in consumer | | | | Power drain: |
| electronics and gaming applications. | | | | Networks using early versions of Wi-Fi technology |
| Many consumer devices use Wi-Fi. Amongst | | | | tend to quickly gobble power - a disadvantage for |
| others, personal computers can network to each | | | | battery-dependent laptop users. |
| other and connect to the Internet, mobile | | | | Security: |
| computers can connect to the Internet from any | | | | Here's the downside of providing fast, easy |
| Wi-Fi hotspot, and digital cameras can transfer | | | | access. Outsiders can sometimes get into your |
| images wirelessly. | | | | wireless networks as fast and easily as you can. |
| WiFi Phones: | | | | Check with hardware vendors about the latest |
| A WiFi phone is a wireless telephone that looks | | | | security precautions and products. The Wi-Fi |
| similar to a mobile phone but places calls via a | | | | Alliance currently recommends using Wi-Fi |
| combination of voice over IP and WiFi rather than | | | | Protected Access (WPA) technology, which both |
| via a cellular network. Some WiFi phones use | | | | authenticates users and encrypts data. |
| Skype or Vonage for their voice over IP service | | | | |