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