Last issue we explored various types of data-only wireless communications, starting with one-way paging and moving through full two-way messaging systems from BellSouth Wireless Data, American Mobile ARDIS (now Motient), and CDPD. What did we learn?
First, that packet-data systems are perhaps the best way to send and receive short messages, update calendars, and for the transmission of basic email, but they are not ideal for long file transfers or email with large attachments.
Second, the biggest single obstacle to user adoption of wireless data systems is not the difficulty in connecting a computer to a wireless network, but the difficulty connecting the wireless network to information sources that are important to the user.
45 million mobile workers
Today there are approximately 45 million mobile workers in the U.S. This number is made up of people who are away from their office 20% of the
time or more. Many carry a cellular phone (85 million in the U.S). Many
carry pagers (54 million pagers). And many carry a palmtop, handheld, or
notebook PC (30 million). Why isn't this mobile workforce enabled with
wireless data access? It is simply too difficult to connect to the
information sources we want and need.
However, millions of mobile workers already have a mobile computer and
have already learned by trial and error how to connect to their own
corporate resources. They could easily be drawn to wireless data. In
addition, IS managers have learned to support these mobile users. These
same IT managers have figured out how to coax their legacy programs to run
over phone lines, provide remote access to their corporate information
assets, and support dial-up mobile folks.
The wireless industry has been so focused on packet-based solutions
discussed in the last issue, that it has overlooked this group of
experienced users. While some of these people may have tried analog dial-up over cellular, most have found that this approach is too difficult to be a satisfactory solution. No one has made a move to win over these folks with dial-up circuit-switched wireless at least in the U.S.
What do you need for wireless data?
Until recently GSM was the only wireless digital standard that supported dial-up connections. However, GSM systems do not provide
nationwide coverage Dallas and Chicago are two big holes. GSM in-building coverage is not very good yet, and roaming charges outside your prime provider's area add to its expense. Finally, though GSM carriers provide data capabilities, they don't seem to be particularly interested in data.
Of the four digital technologies now deployed in the U.S., three support dial-up data. The networks using these technologies have, for the
most part, turned on their data spigots. GSM, mentioned above, provides
data rates of up to 9.6 Kbps. CDMA as deployed by Verizon (the new joint
venture of Vodafone/AirTouch, GTE, Bell Atlantic, and Primco), and Sprint
PCS support dial-up at 14.4 Kbps. Nextel, based on Motorola's iDEN
technology, also supports 9.6 Kbps dial-up. TDMA wireless service
operators do not support dial-up data at this time (AT&T and SBC/BellSouth).
Each of these technologies may require a different type of configuration, external cable, or modem and cable. GSM usually requires a
GSM-compatible modem (PC Card) and a cable. You use this combination to
connect your phone to your mobile computer and you have a 9.6-Kbps dial-up
connection wherever you have GSM coverage. On CDMA systems, the phones
have a built-in modem, so all you need is a cable to connect your mobile
computer to your phone. I say "all," but finding the right cable can be a real adventure. Once you have one, you can access the Internet using a 14.4-Kbps connection. Nextel provides dial-up access at the same speed as GSM (9.6 Kbps), and the new Nextel phones include a modem--all you need is a cable.
Advantages outweigh data speed
True, the speeds are not great, but if you need to access your email or
retrieve information off the Web, you can do so whenever you are in
coverage. If you use a browser and turn off the graphics, the results are
pretty good. And most of the networks have implemented 3Com's Quick NET
Connect technology for a much faster connection to the network.
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