Wireless Broadband

Eight long hours

Tue, 22 Jan 2008 06:59:57 -0500

Everyone, it seems, noticed that during Hurricane Katrina, the cell phone system was gone with the wind (and the waves). In response to the experience of Katrina and a number of other natural and man-made disasters, the FCC has now mandated that all cell towers come with back-up power for at least eight hours of operation after the electric power distribution grid goes down. It's not as simple as just sticking a diesel generator at the foot of each tower--different towers have generation and storage requirements that range from hydrogen fuel cells to lead-acid batteries to diesel generators. While the requirements are different, the financial burden is estimated to be uniformly high, ranging from $5,000 to $10,000 in additional costs for every cell tower in the U.S. That's a lot of money, whether it's being counted on grid or backup power.

For more on the new FCC requirements:
- Read the regulation analysis at WirelessWeek

Clearwire's WiMAX up close

Mon, 27 Aug 2007 06:59:57 -0400

WiMAX plans are popping up all over, and Clearwire has become the latest to go public with details of its broadband-over-WiMAX offering. With a flat monthly fee for high-speed access anywhere within a metropolitan area, the Clearwire plan joins those of other vendors (like Clearwire partner Sprint), as the next wave of Internet access begins.

For more on Clearwire's plan:
- read about the service details at CIO-Today

QUICKLINKS: Motorola to Cut Handset Staff?; U.S. Needs Muni WiFi to Bridge Wireless Broadband Gaps; and much more...

Sun, 21 Jan 2007 19:01:35 -0500

> Motorola to Cut Handset Staff? Article

> Cheaper GPS? Article

> U.S. Needs Muni WiFi to Bridge Wireless Broadband Gaps Article

> A Friendly Interface for Cell Phones…and Not an iPhone Article

Just for fun: The latest in smartphone technology from Apple? Not quite. Photo

QUICKLINKS: The allure of the dual-mode handset, voice over WiFi combo; Army going wireless with $20M contract; Much more...

Sun, 16 Apr 2006 20:00:50 -0400

Should dual-mode handsets, voice over WiFi meet? Article

Army tests tech integrating wireless, wireline and RFID. Article

Wireless net offers better security for marathon event. Article

Demand pushes public WiFi to 43 percent growth. Article

Nokia's hometown takes wireless to the max. Article

Portland chooses a wireless network vendor. Article

New FCC rules on wireless broadband bidding. Article

Skype goes on a shopping spree. Article

Public WiFi not something users want to pay for. Article

A marvel of a wireless LAN chip solution. Article

The low-down on EV-DO

Sun, 08 Jan 2006 19:01:36 -0500

In the eternal quest to remain up-to-date on wireless standards here's a very useful article for understanding what EV-DO, a new standard for high-speed wireless broadband, is all about. For example, many people don't know what the acronym actually stands for: Evolution Data Only or Evolution Data Optimized. Yet, according to the Telecommunication's Industry Association, EV-DO is defined as CDMA2000 High Rate Packet Data Air Interface.

QUICKLINKS: Why the telecom act needs to be spruced up a bit; Taiwan could be home to biggest WiMax deployment; Much more...

Sun, 23 Oct 2005 20:00:50 -0400

Why the telcom act needs to be spruced up a bit. Article

Taiwan could be home to biggest WiMax deployment to date. Article

Networks will help shape future business model and IT services. Report

Why 3G is proving to be a big handset challenge for vendors. Article

How mobile phones might become top transportation data tool. Article

Even Microsoft has a new smart phone out for sale. Article

Emerging GPS capability could foster more intelligent workplaces. Article

Using balloons to provide wireless broadband access. Article

ActiveSync mobile app has synchronization hurdle. Article

How 3G technology is boosting business efforts

Sun, 25 Sep 2005 20:01:38 -0400

American Republic Insurance is using 3G to boost sales staff efforts when on the road, H&R Block is using it to power customer kiosks and temporary offices used during tax season and a commercial vehicle dealer relies on it when other network options slow down. 3G is finding a home in more enterprises each day due to connectivity ability, ease of configuration, low cost and good network speed.

As one communications consultancy has discovered, the performance and network stability provided by 3G not only helps spur business development through better and faster network access, it could prove to be a viable alternative to building a WiFi network at headquarters. The technology is proving to be a valuable option while companies wait for WiMax to evolve, which industry experts note isn't going to happen overnight.

In the meantime 3G will likely become pervasive within a few short years due to all its benefits. Learn how companies are benefiting from 3G and why it may be the panacea your enterprise needs until wireless broadband arrives as a solid third option in wireless networking.

For more on 3G capabilities:
- read this article at InfoWorld

Motorola moving ahead on WiMax products

Sun, 11 Sep 2005 20:01:34 -0400

Motorola isn't waiting for the WiMax Forum to deliver specs for WiMax wireless broadband and is readying two product lines based on the IEEE 802.16e standard to hit the market early next year. The new devices, which will use Motorola's Canopy technology based on small access points for high-speed data services via ISPs, actually won't support mobility initially but will be mobile-ready when today's technical issues have been solved, according to the vendor. Article

WiMax will hit mainstream next year

Mon, 05 Sep 2005 20:01:35 -0400

If Standard & Poor's predictions hold true, real WiMax capabilities will be within easy reach come next year once vendor trials currently underway are completed. Describing the tool as an "ultimate complement to WiFi," the equity research firm sees Intel taking the lead role, though there are lots of players submitting WiMax equipment to interoperability testing. In fact, everywhere you look in the tech industry, players are hopping on the bandwagon, pushing out products, services and new capabilities. Article

PLUS: Costs will continue to go down in wireless broadband. Article

QUICKLINKS: Intel's major push for wireless broadband; San Francisco puts WiFi service on track; And more...

Sun, 21 Aug 2005 20:00:50 -0400

Intel's Digital Communities is a major push for wireless broadband. Article

T-Mobile, Nokia push high-speed HSDPA 3G service abroad. Article

San Francisco puts citywide WiFi service on track. Article

Supporting vendors getting ready for the Windows Mobile Palm Treo. Article

UPS delivers support to WiFi/RFID development. Article

Smartphones slowing gaining on handhelds. Article

Users are more dependent on mobile devices than ever. Article

Telcove debuts new VoIP service for enterprises. Article

Verizon, Lucent conclude 3G testing and begin upgrade effort. Article

Philly down to two vendor choices for municipal WiFi effort. Article

Competition and Internet tech drives down UK telco costs. Article