Wireless - Technology for future
Wireless - Technology
for Future
White Paper
Nishant Prakash
Morpho e-Document
Wireless: Technology for future
Abstract
This white paper provides the brief information about few Wireless
technologies with which we deal in day to day life like RFID,
Bluetooth, WI-FI and GSM.
All of the above mentioned technologies have the capability to
change the way business is transacted.
By the end of this white paper you will be conversant with the
fundamentals of RFID, Bluetooth, GSM and Wi-Fi and how these
technologies will impact the business of the world.
Range: Is the only difference, in all these radio based technologies.
Regardless of the range issues - one thing is certain - these radio
technologies are an intrinsic part of our everyday lives.
Wireless: Technology for future
Contents
INTRODUCTION ........................................................................................ 4
DETAILED SUMMARY ............................................................................. 5
RFID ............................................................................................................ 5
BLUETOOTH .................................................................................................. 5
WI-FI ............................................................................................................ 6
GSM ............................................................................................................ 7
OBJECTIVE OF THESE WIRELESS TECHNOLOGIES..................... 8
BUSINESS IMPACT .................................................................................... 8
FUTURE OF WIRELESS............................................................................ 9
CONCLUSION ............................................................................................. 9
BIBLIOGRAPHY ....................................................................................... 10
Wireless: Technology for future
Introduction
RFID, Bluetooth, WI-FI and GSM technologies have two things in common:

They all relate to wireless technologies.

They all have the capability to change the way business is transacted.
They have different names they are essentially radio based technologies and, at
a simplistic level, could be said to differ because of one issue - their range.
RFID, Radio Frequency Identification, is a short-range system used to
identify products in situ or in transit. RFID is used to track products on a shelf in
a supermarket and can offer the retail industry a boon in saving on inventories
and out of stock items.
Bluetooth is a clever radio system operating in an approximate 10 meter range
that allows pairs of devices to communicate to each other, wirelessly. Toyota has
developed their Prius car, a fully Bluetooth enabled automobile. Your cell phone
will talk to the car's audio system and you can use buttons on the steering wheel
to make and receive calls - all completely wireless. There's a good chance you
already use a wireless mouse and wireless keypad in your office - the probability
is that these devices are using Bluetooth to communicate.
Wi-Fi stands for Wireless Fidelity and allows for a wireless network to be
established, with a range dependent on performance, which can reach hundreds
of meters. Many offices are now using Wi-Fi as a cost effective alternative to
running Ethernet cables all over their buildings. Starbucks now offer customers
the opportunity to log on to their own Wi-Fi network - cappuccino and surfing in
convivial surrounds.
GSM stands for Global System for Mobile communications and is a longer
range radio based switching system used in cell phones. The system has
migrated from its first generation, which was an analogue platform, to a fully
digital platform for its second generation. Third generation or 3G handsets will
be fully rolled out by networks. This will enable a full digital environment with
the ability to send and receive email video images, internet connectivity and
other enhanced services. When you consider that GSM is available in over 200
countries and will surpass the 1 billion customer mark, it is fair to say it is a truly
global network.
Wireless: Technology for future
Regardless of the range issues - one thing is certain - these radio technologies
are an intrinsic part of our everyday lives.
Detailed Summary
RFID
RFID has really been set alight by the endorsement of the technology by the
retail industry. RFID tags are miniscule microchips, which already have shrunk to
half the size of a grain of coffee. RFID tags work by listening for a brief radio
signal and then respond with their own, completely unique ID code. The beauty
of these devices is that they require no batteries - they are powered by the
original radio signal. Obviously, they are disposal entities but when you consider
that unit costs are in the 5 – 15 cent bracket you can see that their cost can be
sunk - for the right benefits accruing, of course.
Many industry experts believe that RFID is ripe for widespread adoption. This is a
massive undertaking when you consider the number of suppliers involved.
Historically, many companies needed a way of capturing accurate, real-time
information about the products they make, move and sell. RFID offers that
capability and helps companies boost supply chain efficiencies, reduce
inventories, limit theft, improve product availability and add convenience for
consumers.
The brains behind RFID were driven by the Auto-ID Center, based at MIT, an
unusual cooperative effort between academia and global companies to develop
the Electronic Product Code (EPC), a system for identifying objects and sharing
information about them securely over the Internet.
One potential aspect for the industry is the issue of privacy. It might be useful
consider this as it may arise within any organization. The point is to know how
this technology unfolds and how the industry rolls out that saves them millions of
inventory wastage dollars.
Bluetooth
Bluetooth, a wireless technology that enables short-range wireless data
connections between devices.
Bluetooth wireless technology is a worldwide specification for low-cost radio that
provides links between mobile computers, mobile phones, other portable
handheld devices, and connectivity to the Internet. There is a written
specification developed, published and promoted by the Bluetooth Special
Interest Group (SIG). This SIG includes Agere, Ericsson, IBM, Intel, Microsoft,
Motorola, Nokia and Toshiba, and hundreds of Associate and Adopter member
Wireless: Technology for future
companies. In mid 2002, the Bluetooth SIG established its global headquarters in
Overland Park, Kansas, USA.
The Bluetooth wireless specification is one of the few wireless standards to
include both the link and application layer definitions. Radios that comply with
the Bluetooth wireless specification operate in the unlicensed, 2.4 GHz radio
spectrum ensuring communication compatibility worldwide. These radios use a
spread spectrum, frequency hopping, full-duplex signal at up to 1600 hops/sec.
The signal hops among 79 frequencies at 1 MHz intervals to give a high degree
of interference immunity. Up to seven simultaneous connections can be
established and maintained. This also gives Bluetooth devices a good deal of inbuilt security. Most of the time security will not be an issue due to range
considerations but there is the flexibility to up the security should it be required.
The Bluetooth wireless technology is essentially designed to replace cables
between cell phones, laptops, and other computing and communication devices
within a 10-meter range. When Bluetooth wireless technology connects devices
to each other, they become paired.
An example of such device pairings includes:

Your wireless headset connecting to the cell phone in your pocket

Your PDA automatically synchronizes with your computer when you walk
into the office.
And this is only the tip of the iceberg. Bluetooth Technology is poised to expand
into areas such as industrial automation, gaming and delivery tracking. It is not
too far off from when you will use a Bluetooth pen to write on an image board
located in a different office. Printer can be seamlessly and wirelessly connected
to your PC. And anything else can be imagined within a 30 feet range. Bluetooth
has also already managed to immerse itself into the automotive industry.
Wi-Fi
Wi-Fi, or Wireless Fidelity, is the next level up in radio-based technology from a
range point of view. It allows connecting to the Internet from couch at home, a
bed in a hotel room or a conference room at work without wires. Wi-Fi is a
wireless technology like a cell phone. Wi-Fi enabled computers send and receive
data indoors and out; anywhere within the range of a base station. And the best
thing of all, it's fast. In fact, it's several times faster than the fastest cable
modem connection.
However, the true freedom to be connected anywhere if your computer is
configured with a Wi-Fi CERTIFIED radio (a PC Card or similar device). Wi-Fi
Wireless: Technology for future
certification means it will be able to connect anywhere or with other Wi-Fi
CERTIFIED products — whether at home, the office or corporate campus, or in
airports, hotels, coffee shops and other public areas equipped with a Wi-Fi
access available.
Wi-Fi Certification comes from the Wi-Fi Alliance, a nonprofit international trade
organization that tests 802.11-based wireless equipment to make sure it meets
the Wi-Fi standard and works with all other manufacturers' Wi-Fi equipment on
the market.
Wi-Fi networks use radio technologies called IEEE 802.11b or 802.11a to provide
secure, reliable, fast wireless connectivity. A Wi-Fi network can be used to
connect computers to each other, to the Internet, and to wired networks (which
use IEEE 802.3 or Ethernet). Wi-Fi networks operate in the unlicensed 2.4 and 5
GHz radio bands, with an 11 Mbps (802.11b) or 54 Mbps (802.11a) data rate or
with products that contain both bands (dual band), so they can provide realworld performance similar to the basic 10BaseT wired Ethernet networks used in
many offices.
GSM
GSM is a platform that allows cell phone users to roam within their own country
or roam across international boundaries, keeping the same number and using a
seamless billing system. There are over 200 countries now where GSM is active.
Countries like Iraq are also opting for the GSM platform to enable them to roll
out their cell phone systems.
The GSM system was originally developed for Europe and now claims to have
over 71 percent of the world market. In fact, GSM orginally stood for Groupe
Speciale Mobile from the original European working group that began the
specification and standardization process. Initially the system operated in the
900MHz band but has been subsequently modified to operate in the 850, 1800
and 1900 MHz bands - giving it true global coverage.
Example Application
Approximate Range
Measurement
RFID
Inventory Tracking
Inches
Bluetooth
Wireless keyboard and mouse
Feet
Wi-Fi
Wireless Internet Access in office building,
hotel, coffee shop
Yards
GSM
International cell phone roaming
Miles
Wireless: Technology for future
Objective of these Wireless Technologies
One of the primary goals for wireless technology is to ensure that adoption is not
hampered by device availability. This was one of the problems with 3G - the
technology was talked about so much before it was available yet the handsets
remained discouragingly expensive. Vendors must ensure that wireless
technology devices and networks are not priced out of the market.
Wi-Fi offers great potential cost savings when compared with wired office cable
networks but it must be offered at a price that is still competitive. The GSM
Association has stated that its primary goal is to continue the explosive growth of
its technology platform adoption globally. Bluetooth has gone a long way in also
ensuring that its technology is open - it can be used anywhere in the world
between Bluetooth enabled devices. It will be interesting to see how RFID pans
out - it has a slower acceptance curve because it is primarily focused on industry
but widespread adoption of this technology will depend on consumers seeing the
real benefits for them.
Business Impact
RFID- Retailers will generate significant savings in inventory and labor costs by
adopting RFID technology.
Bluetooth- Bluetooth can significantly increase the mobility and the productivity
of your workers in and out of the workplace.
Wi-Fi- Wi-Fi can afford your company the flexibility to operate in a completely
wirefree environment. New staff can be seamlessly added to the network and be
productive with zero delay.
GSM- Cell phone roaming is a boon for your company if you have international
offices and need to contact staff all over the world.
Wireless: Technology for future
Future of Wireless
The boundary between Bluetooth and Wi-Fi technology will become more
seamless.
Bluetooth technology and Wi-Fi are actually complementary technologies.
Bluetooth is designed to replace cables between cell phones, laptops, and other
computing and communication devices within a 10-meter range.
Wi-Fi is wireless Ethernet providing an extension or replacement of wired
networks for dozens of computing devices. Expect to see both Wi-Fi and
Bluetooth wireless technology coexist. Office will use wireless technology as a
cable replacement for devices such as PDAs, cell phones, cameras, speakers,
headsets and so on, whereas Wi-Fi will replace higher speed wireless Ethernet
access.
With the advent of GRPRs and 3G you will see a lot more rich content being
delivered with your cell phone. Surfing the internet at usable speeds and
downloading email are just some of the features that will enable your cell phone
to be an extension of your office environment.
Conclusion
The bottom line is simple. Implement appropriate technologies for your
organization and for your everyday work.
RFID is coming to a store near you - literally. Watch out for how the big retailers
play out the PR battle with cost savings versus privacy.
Bluetooth will be part of your everyday work and social life - from the humble
wireless mouse to sophisticated in-car audio and cell phone systems.
Wi-Fi will change the way work is enacted in an office. No need for cumbersome,
expensive and inflexible cables.
GSM will enhance your ability to work away from the office, especially with the
widespread adoption of GPRS and 3G.
Wireless: Technology for future
Bibliography
"RFID: Applications, Security and Privacy" by Simson Garfinkel and Beth Rosenberg
http://www.rfid-handbook.de/
www.wi-fi.org
www.bluetooth.com
www.3gpp.org