Wireless Technology

Curtain goes down on Smartphone & Pocket PC magazine

Paul Mah — Wed, 27 Aug 2008 02:10:02 -0400

It was with some nostalgia that I read of the decision by the publisher of Smartphone & Pocket PC magazine to suspend publication after 11 years in operation. The reason appears to be a lack of advertisers, as Microsoft steered its Windows Mobile operating system from being a PDA-only platform. The paradigm is different in mobile land, it seems, and advertising revenues from phone companies and OEMs are just not forthcoming despite coverage of their products.

Beyond the confirmation of just how mobile technology has changed the rules of the game, I think this is a somber reminder that information technology, and mobile technologies in particular, is in a constant state of flux. Indeed, just like how the affordability of the once exorbitantly expensive personal computer created a society where utilizing IT is no longer a competitive advantage, but something that is completely necessary; so too is the pervasiveness of always-on, high-speed mobile data access shifting the landscape.

Already, software makers like Intuit are offering online and smartphone-accessible features. Traditional newspapers like the Washington Post have not just embraced the web, but recently released a free BlackBerry application to access its content.

Of course, FierceMobileIT does owe its existence to the advent of mobile devices. Hopefully, we have added value with our enterprise-centric view of mobile devices and technologies, specifically on how to leverage wireless to benefit your organization.

In the meantime, we will continue to serve you by keeping an eye out for the latest mobile-centric developments. As the old saying goes, change is the only constant. - Paul

Nokia: New E-series phones due in Q3

Paul Mah — Wed, 11 Jun 2008 02:39:37 -0400

There is no let-up at the world's largest cell phone maker, Nokia. The company is scheduled to start selling a new range of its popular, business-centric E-series smartphones in Q3. Though Nokia declined comment, industry speculation says the models are the new E66 and E71. Both phones are expected to come with features such as a built-in GPS, a 3.2 megapixel camera, and 128-megabytes of memory.

Nokia also will start selling its top-of-the-line N96 multimedia phone, first unveiled back in February. It will replace the best-selling N95, of which 6 million units were sold. In other news, American Technology Research downgraded Nokia's rating from "buy" to "hold" in lieu of "a competitive response from Nokia" to Apple's 3G iPhone announcement.

For more about Nokia:
- check out the mocoNews.net article

Mobile calls take flight in Europe

Wed, 23 Apr 2008 06:59:54 -0400

The FCC may have decided against allowing mobile phone calls on planes in the U.S., but that doesn't mean that mobile calls are grounded elsewhere in the world. Air France recently started testing an in-flight calling system on a few of its planes and the results were...well, a bit turbulent. First off, only six passengers can make a call at a time, to avoid interference with the plane's equipment. Then there's the price of making a call from the air: 3 Euros or almost $5 USD a minute. Finally there's the issue of the call quality. "From Seat 14C, Mr. Germain punched in the number on his cellphone to his assistant in Paris and waited a few moments for the signal to bounce from a satellite in space to a receiver on the ground 39,000 feet below," the New York Times reported. "'I'm not hearing you very well,' the assistant yelled when he got through. 'It sounds like I'm talking to a small robot.'"

For more on in-flight calls:
- see this New York Times article

Get ready for OFDM

Mon, 17 Dec 2007 06:59:57 -0500

Orthogonal Division Frequency Multiplexing (OFDM) may not be at the center of your radar screen, but if you build wireless systems or applications, you should be learning about OFDM and what it does for wireless communications. A technology foundation of WiMAX, OFDM will be a key ingredient in allowing mobile WiMAX to have an impact on the work life of mobile professionals. OFDM makes it possible to squeeze more channels and more effective bandwidth into a given slice of radio spectrum--that's a win for WiMAX, the service providers, and the users.

For more on OFDM:
- Read the technology analysis at WirelessWeek

Much more mobile

Mon, 10 Dec 2007 06:59:59 -0500

It's a good-news twofer this week: News that new trials are beginning for in-flight WiFi is welcomed by every business traveler who's gone coast-to-coast while a project waited on "pause" for a few critical hours. Add to that the news that new applications, from Google's search portal to SAP's ERP, are being made available on wireless platforms, and it's obvious that users will be able to remain more productive, more of the time.

These bits of good news are wonderful because they help move the market in the direction of fulfilling the ultimate promise of wireless technology--a vision of ubiquitous computing that lets us be productive wherever we are, whenever we need to be. For those of us who have built careers away from an office, the promise is great. For those who haven't, the promise is even greater, because it means the possibility of changing the way that work is done. With traffic and environmental concerns growing, it's time for organizations to take fresh looks at wireless technology. It's a good thing that wireless is ever more ready to step up to the challenge. -Curtis

Machine-to-machine messaging

Mon, 10 Dec 2007 06:59:57 -0500

Messaging between embedded control and intelligence devices may not be the sexiest topic in wireless communications, but it could well be the most important. Just as Bluetooth allows communications between devices that are within a short cable's distance of one another, M2M (Machine to Machine) messaging can allow devices separated by miles or oceans to communicate with one to another. M2M is rapidly changing as analog cellular networks are replaced by digital networks, and the change is being reflected in greater certainty in message delivery and timing--not to mention a higher bandwidth available for messages. The market is predicted to grow beyond $8 billion a year--though this market's impact could grow well beyond those economic measures.

For more on M2M applications and growth:
- Read the hand's on analysis at WirelessWeek

Flawed iPhone wins corporate converts

Mon, 10 Dec 2007 06:59:56 -0500

Corporations have had time to take a long, objective look at the Apple iPhone, and despite acknowledgment that the high-style device isn't perfect for enterprise applications, many are liking what they see. When Apple opened up the iPhone to third-party software--like the just-released application from SAP--it made a huge difference, and now the enterprise apps (and enterprise acceptance) are starting to grow.

For more on corporate iPhone acceptance:
- Read the enterprise analysis at eWeek

Verizon 4G network coming

Mon, 03 Dec 2007 06:59:57 -0500

Cellular-phone carrier Verizon has announced that it is building its next-generation network based on LTE (Long-Term Evolution) technology, making it the latest carrier to move toward genuine high-speed (100 Mbps) mobile network technology and leaving Sprint and Alltel as the only significant carriers in the U.S. sticking with CDMA as their network technology. The move should mean more non-phone devices with cellular network capabilities built in and an easier path for Verizon customers who want to go global roaming with the new phones.

For more on the new Verizon network technology:
- Read the hands-on heads-up at CIO-Today

Cautious Android approval

Mon, 19 Nov 2007 06:59:57 -0500

In the first week of Google's Android mobile operating system, the majority of the response has been positive and optimistic, though a few have voiced concerns over potential security issues with the open-source system. The optimism comes from the open-source basis of the software and the alliance of companies that have already committed to supporting the system. The caution comes as part of that same open-source basis: the idea that any application can hook into the operating system creates significant security concerns in the minds of some security experts. Now the market can decide whether the optimism or caution wins out--or whether the two will be balanced in a very successful system.

For more on the initial response to Android:
- Read the software analysis at CIO-Today

Sun's mobile moves

Mon, 19 Nov 2007 06:59:56 -0500

Sun has designs on mobile productivity that go well beyond Java. Sun's launch of the Mobile and Embedded Community last year was designed to be a platform from which mobile software could be launched. Java ME is the core software component, but a variety of middleware and application pieces are in various stages of development. In an interview, Terrence Barr of Sun talked about the community and Sun's plans for the wireless marketplace. In the interview, he talks about the community--and about Sun's continuing commitment to the mobile market--including Sun's on-going support of development for mobile Java.

For more on Sun's mobile plans:
- Read the complete interview at eWeek