Chapter 9. Short-range Wireless Networks
In this chapter…
While cellular networks have grown at a faster rate than any analysts predicted, shorter-range mobile systems have been less successful. Wireless LANs (Local Area Networks) have never been as fast or as reliable as their wired equivalents, and still suffer from competing standards. Cordless phones have proven more popular, but attempts to extend their scope and introduce roaming have mostly failed. And although infrared ports are built into almost every laptop and PDA, most go through their entire lives without being used.
Rather than be put off by these disappointments, the industry has tried to learn from them. New wireless technologies promise data rates good enough for most purposes, if the standards battle is sorted out. Third-generation mobile hopes to allow seamless roaming between the private and public networks. Most ambitious of all, the Bluetooth initiative promises to surround us all with personal wireless networks.