What's Next for Wireless?
On a train, in a plane, at broadband speeds.James A. Martin
Sign up to have the Mobile Computing Newsletter e-mailed to you each week.
Feature: What's Next for Wireless?
Imagine surfing the Internet wirelessly on your notebook--at blazing speeds--while riding a high-speed bullet train. Or zipping down the highway (as a passenger, I hope), checking the traffic situation ahead on a wireless-enabled PDA with a super-fast connection. Or making a Wi-Fi broadband connection even though you're miles away from the nearest hot spot.
Well, guess what? Someone else has already imagined these scenarios. And the wireless broadband technologies designed to make them happen are in the works. Here's a briefing on next-generation wireless technologies and what they may mean to you.
WiMax: Wi-Fi Successor
What's the Big Deal? With a broadcast range of 25 to 30 miles, WiMax's geographic reach promises to be far superior to today's IEEE 802.11 Wi-Fi. For instance, the currently ubiquitous Wi-Fi wireless networking standard, the basis of many commercial wireless hot spots such as those at McDonald's and Starbucks, has a range of up to 300 feet (but often more like 150 to 200 feet).
What's the Technology? WiMax refers to a family of standards known as IEEE 802.16. The 802.16a and subsequent 802.16-REVd standards (a consolidation of 802.16, 802.16a, and 802.16c) are designed to broadcast broadband Internet access to stationary wireless base stations. An extension to those standards, 802.16e, adds data mobility that makes it possible to beam broadband connections to moving objects, such as a notebook with a WiMax modem on a laptop used by a train passenger.
When Will It Be Real? Products based on the stationary 802.16 standards are expected to appear in early 2005. Devices supporting the 802.16e standard for mobile users aren't expected until late 2006.
What's the Bottom Line? With Intel as one of its biggest champions, WiMax has strong industry support and lots of momentum. It's widely expected to be the successor to today's Wi-Fi. But mobile users won't benefit from WiMax for at least another two years.
For more info, read "Will Wireless Broadband Go WiMax?" or visit the WiMax Forum's Web site.
Mobile-Fi: Broadband on the Run
What's the Big Deal? Mobile-Fi, also known as Mobile Broadband Wireless Access (or MBWA), promises broadband Internet access at speeds even faster than Digital Subscriber Line, cable, and potentially WiMax, and at ranges of up to 9.5 miles or more. Unlike WiMax, Mobile-Fi can deliver broadband Internet access to users traveling at speeds up to 155 miles per hour. Thus, Mobile-Fi could be the ideal technology for notebook-carrying, high-speed train commuters.
What's the Technology? Mobile-Fi/MBWA is the nickname for the IEEE 802.20 specification.
When Will It Be Real? Not until 2006.
What's the Bottom Line? Flarion Technologies and Navini Networks are among the companies involved in developing the 802.20 standard. But industry support hasn't been as consistently strong for 802.20 as it has been for WiMax. Also, WiMax products for mobile users are expected to appear before 802.20-based devices, potentially giving WiMax a further edge. But anything could happen between now and 2006, so I wouldn't underestimate Mobile-Fi's chances.
Last year, PC World's Yardena Arar tested wireless high-speed Internet access from Navini Networks. Read "DSL Speeds, Cellular Coverage" for details.
Ultra Wideband: Short-Range Data Transfer
What's the Big Deal? UWB promises super-fast transfer rates of up to 480 megabits per second between nearby devices such as a desktop PC and a digital camcorder. UWB could become the high-speed successor to Bluetooth, the limited-range personal area network standard that has yet to really take off; and it could be seen as a kind of wireless version of FireWire and USB 2.0. But UWB's fastest rates only work within 3 feet. At 30 feet away, data transfer rates drop to about 110 mbps.
What's the Technology? UWB is the user-friendly name for the IEEE 802.15.3a proposed wireless standard. Currently, there are competing specifications for the standard. In one corner is the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, the standards-setting organization behind many technology specifications. In the other is the MultiBand OFDM Alliance (or MBOA), whose members include Intel, Panasonic, Philips, Samsung, and Sony.
When Will It Be Real? It's expected that all legal and technical issues should be resolved by year's end. UWB devices such as digital cameras should begin appearing by mid 2005.
What's the Bottom Line? UWB may be a convenient, cordless way to transfer video and digital camera pictures to your PC. But it doesn't look to be as promising for broadband Internet connectivity on the go as WiMax, Mobile-Fi, and cellular networks.
For more about UWB, read "Intel Boosts Ultra Wideband."
In the Mean Time...
If you don't want to wait, you may be able to get a broadband wireless connection now. Cell phone companies are already rolling out third-generation networks offering speedy wireless Internet connections for smart phone and notebook users.
For instance, Verizon Wireless is currently pushing a 3G network service called EVDO in Washington, D.C. and San Diego; it will add nearly 100 more markets by year-end 2005. At $80 a month, though, Verizon's price is steep for anyone except hard-core business travelers. For more details, read "Verizon Wireless Expands 3G Service."
Call for Cool Hot Spots
Speaking of wireless networking, do you know of a truly offbeat, cool, public wireless hot spot? If so, tell me about it, and send a picture if possible.
Notebooks & Accessories
Tip: Access Your PC From Anywhere
Fantasy: When you travel on business, you always take your most important computer files with you, on your notebook, PDA, or smart phone.
Reality: You often realize you've forgotten at least one of your important files, just when you need it most.
But you're in luck, if you're near a PC with an Internet connection and your computer back home uses Windows XP Professional (and is turned on and connected to the Internet). A feature in XP Professional called Remote Desktop lets you remotely access files from your computer without the need for any additional software. To set this up, follow the instructions in "Access Your Desktop From Wherever You May Be."
News: Bigger Notebook Hard Drives
Fujitsu recently began mass producing a 100GB hard disk for notebook computers, the largest capacity thus far for portables. Among the companies offering the 100GB drive in their notebooks are Dell and Hewlett-Packard. Fujitsu's drive spins at 4200 revolutions per minute, which is not exactly blazing fast, but sufficient for most users. It comes with a parallel ATA interface.
Meanwhile, Seagate plans to introduce a 5400-rpm 100GB drive in the third quarter and a 7200-rpm 100GB drive in the fourth quarter, according to the company. For more information, read "Fujitsu Ramps Up 100GB Notebook Drives."
Review: Intel Chips Deliver Fast Notebook Performance
Intel's zippy new Pentium M processors are here, available in Centrino notebooks from Dell, Gateway, Hewlett-Packard, and IBM. Based on PC World tests, the new chips set performance records for notebooks and deliver top-notch battery life. The Dell Inspiron 8600C ($2899) and Compaq Nc6000 ($2499) notebooks, with the fastest processors, earned the best scores we've ever seen for Windows XP Pro notebooks. The other two notebooks, the Gateway 450XL ($2440) and the IBM ThinkPad T42 ($1994), were close behind.
Gadgets & Services
Tip: A Portal for Your PDA
Have you ever used a PDA to surf the Web? Then you know the pain of trying to view a Web page on a 3-inch screen. To the rescue comes PDA Portal, a directory of 600-some Web sites formatted for small handheld screens and the sluggish connection speeds that are inevitable with PDAs. The site includes easy access to weather, stocks, entertainment, POP e-mail sites, and more, in 13 languages and 20 categories.
Consumer Advice: How to Hold on to Your Handheld
PDAs, smart phones, notebooks, and other gadgets have a tendency to go AWOL if you're not careful. More than 600,000 notebooks, PDAs, and mobile phones were lost or stolen in the U.S. in 2001, according to researchers. That number could double yearly, as portable gadgets grow in popularity.
But there are measures you can take:
PC World's Anne Kandra has more tips on safeguarding portables in "Keep Your Hands on Your Handhelds."
News: Nokia's Clamshell Phone
Known for its candy-bar style phones, Nokia recently added a clamshell handset, the 6260. The triband GSM phone features a MultiMediaCard slot and a built-in VGA (640 by 480 pixels) camera that can capture still and moving images. It includes standard smart phone applications, such as a contact manager, e-mail, and a Web browser; and it supports push-to-talk connections, the company says. The 6260 will be available worldwide in the third quarter for about $480.
For more details on this and other new Nokia phones, read "Nokia Opens New Clamshell Phones."
Suggestion Box
Is there a particularly cool mobile computing product or service I've missed? Got a spare story idea in your back pocket? Tell me about it.