Chapter 9
The Wireless Revolution
9-1
Chapter 9
The Wireless Revolution
True-False Questions
1.
By most accounts, the wireless revolution is in its maturity stage.
Answer: False
2.
p. 305
Difficulty:
Medium
Reference:
p. 305
Difficulty:
Easy
Reference:
p. 306
Difficulty:
Medium
Reference:
p. 306
Difficulty:
Medium
Reference:
p. 307
Difficulty:
Easy
Reference:
p. 308
Communication satellites are not very cost-effective when transmitting large quantities of
data over very long distances.
Answer: False
9.
Reference:
Microwave signals can be bounded off communication satellites, enabling them to serve as
relay stations for microwave signals transmitted from terrestrial stations.
Answer: True
8.
Easy
Cellular telephones and paging devices have been assigned a specific range of frequencies by
national regulatory agencies and international agreements.
Answer: True
7.
Difficulty:
Steadily increasing costs have resulted in making high-speed wireless communication even
less affordable.
Answer: False
6.
p. 304
Global positioning system is a worldwide satellite navigational system.
Answer: True
5.
Reference:
A number of studies have shown that wireless networking actually decreases worker
productivity and output.
Answer: False
4.
Medium
Businesses of all sizes are devoting more of their resources to wireless devices, services, and
applications.
Answer: True
3.
Difficulty:
Difficulty:
Easy
Reference:
p. 308
Low-orbit satellites consume less power and cost less to launch than conventional satellites.
Answer: True
Difficulty:
Medium
Reference:
p. 308
9-2
The Wireless Revolution
10.
Short message service (SMS) is a text messaging service used by a number of digital cell
phone systems to send and receive short alphanumeric systems less than 160 characters in
length.
Answer: True
11.
p. 309
Difficulty:
Medium
Reference:
p. 309
Difficulty:
Hard
Reference:
p. 309
Difficulty:
Easy
Reference:
p. 309
Difficulty:
Medium
Reference:
p. 310
Difficulty:
Easy
Reference:
p. 310
Difficulty:
Medium
Reference:
p. 310
I-mode is a wireless service offered by AT&T in the United States.
Answer: False
19.
Reference:
Wireless Markup Language (WML) does not support most wireless network standards and
operating systems for handheld computing devices.
Answer: False
18.
Medium
A microbrowser is an Internet browser with a small file size that can work with the lowmemory constraints of handheld wireless devices and the low bandwidth of wireless
networks.
Answer: True
17.
Difficulty:
Wireless Application Protocol (WAP) is a system of protocols and technologies that lets cell
phones and other wireless devices with tiny displays, low-bandwidth connections, and
minimal memory access Web-based information and services.
Answer: True
16.
p. 309
The movement from the historically slow and inefficient circuit-switched phone networks of
the past to high speed, cellular, digital packet-switched networks is called 3G networks.
Answer: True
15.
Reference:
In the United States, Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM) is the standard used
in digital cellular services.
Answer: False
14.
Easy
Digital cellular service uses several different competing standards that do not interoperate.
Answer: True
13.
Difficulty:
Unlike e-mail, SMS messages cannot be forwarded and stored for later retrieval.
Answer: False
12.
Chapter 9
Difficulty:
Medium
Reference:
p. 311
Wireless phones, pagers, computers, printers, and computing devices using Bluetooth can
communicate with each other and even operate each other without direct user intervention.
Answer: True
Difficulty:
Medium
Reference:
p. 312
Chapter 9
20.
The Wireless Revolution
The IEEE set of standards for wireless LANs is the 802.11 family, also known as Wi-Fi.
Answer: True
21.
p. 313
Difficulty:
Medium
Reference:
p. 313
Difficulty:
Medium
Reference:
p. 314
Difficulty:
Medium
Reference:
p. 315
Difficulty:
Medium
Reference:
p. 315
Difficulty:
Hard
Reference:
p. 317
Difficulty:
Medium
Reference:
p. 317
EV-DO provides wireless access to the Internet over a cellular network at an average speed
of 300 to 500 Kbps.
Answer: True
29.
Reference:
WiMax has a wireless access range of up to 30 feet.
Answer: False
28.
Hard
Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access (WiMax) is a popular term for IEEE
Standard 802.16, known as the “Air Interface for Fixed Broadband Wireless Access
Systems.”
Answer: True
27.
Difficulty:
One of the attractive features of Wi-Fi is its excellent security features, which make it safe to
intruders.
Answer: False
26.
p. 312
Wi-Fi currently enables users to freely roam from hotspot to hotspot even if the hotspot is
using different Wi-Fi network services.
Answer: False
25.
Reference:
The 802.11 standard can be used to provide wireless access to the Internet using a broadband
connection.
Answer: True
24.
Easy
Most Wi-Fi communication uses infrastructure mode.
Answer: True
23.
Difficulty:
The 802.11a standard can transmit up to 54 Mbps in the 2.4-GHz range.
Answer: False
22.
9-3
Difficulty:
Medium
Reference:
p. 317
M-commerce represents a substantial percentage of the total e-commerce transactions taking
place over the Internet.
Answer: False
Difficulty:
Medium
Reference:
p. 318
9-4
The Wireless Revolution
30.
M-commerce applications have taken off for services that are time-critical, that appeal to
people on the move, or that accomplishes a task more efficiently than other methods.
Answer: True
31.
p. 321
Difficulty:
Easy
Reference:
p. 321
Difficulty:
Easy
Reference:
p. 322
Difficulty:
Easy
Reference:
p. 322
Difficulty:
Easy
Reference:
p. 322
Difficulty:
Medium
Reference:
p. 322
Difficulty:
Easy
Reference:
p. 323
Radio frequency identification (RFID) systems require line-of-sight contact in order to be
read.
Answer: False
39.
Reference:
Major customer relationship management (CRM) vendors have enhanced their products to
provide mobile support for sales and service activities.
Answer: True
38.
Easy
The data transfer speeds on second-generation cellular networks are very fast compared to
dial-up connections to the Internet.
Answer: False
37.
Difficulty:
What is needed to help m-commerce take off is more interoperability achieved by having all
the players agree on a common, secure platform for wireless m-commerce payments.
Answer: True
36.
p. 318
In both the United States and Europe, micropayment services are based on a “walled garden”
model in which individual service providers run their own separate payment systems.
Answer: True
35.
Reference:
NTT DoCoMo cell phone customers can use special cell phones equipped with a smart card
computer chip that can store electronic cash.
Answer: True
34.
Easy
Micropayments systems have not worked very effectively in Europe and Asia.
Answer: False
33.
Difficulty:
Wireless portals typically offer a variety of features, links to other wireless sites, the ability
to select content to be pushed to the user’s device as well as providing a point of entry for
anyone to send the user a message.
Answer: True
32.
Chapter 9
Difficulty:
Easy
Reference:
p. 325
A radio frequency identification reader consists of an antenna and a radio transmitter with a
decoding capability attached to a stationary or handheld device.
Answer: True
Difficulty:
Easy
Reference:
p. 325
Chapter 9
40.
The Wireless Revolution
9-5
Information in passive RFID tags can be rewritten and modified.
Answer: False
Difficulty:
Easy
Reference:
p. 325
Multiple-Choice Questions
41.
Which of the following statements concerning mobile phones is NOT true?
a.
b.
c.
d.
Feature rich
Expensive
Powerful
Nearly ubiquitous
Answer:
42.
Medium
Reference:
p. 304
100 million.
300 million.
600 million.
900 million.
Answer:
b
Difficulty:
Hard
Reference:
p. 306
Reference:
p. 307
Microwave signals:
a.
b.
c.
d.
are lower in frequency than cell phones
are lower in frequency than fiber optics.
are lower in frequency than paging devices.
are lower in frequency than short-wave radio.
Answer:
44.
Difficulty:
In China over __________________ users use mobile phones, which is more than the
number of fixed telephone lines in existence.
a.
b.
c.
d.
43.
b
b
Difficulty:
Hard
Amoco uses __________________ for real-time data transfer of oil field exploration
data gathered from searches of the ocean floor.
a.
b.
c.
d.
fiber optics
Bluetooth technology
Wi-Fi technology
satellites
Answer:
d
Difficulty:
Medium
Reference:
p. 308
9-6
The Wireless Revolution
45.
These systems beep when the user receives a short alphanumeric message, and are often
used for communicating with mobile workers:
a.
b.
c.
d.
low-earth orbit.
paging.
microbrowser.
RFID
Answer:
46.
Easy
Reference:
p. 308
b
Difficulty:
Easy
Reference:
p. 308
Cellular phones work by using __________________ to communicate.
a.
b.
c.
d.
radio waves
infrared
fiber optics
microbrowsers
Answer:
a
Difficulty:
Easy
Reference:
p. 308
A text message service used by a number of digital cell phone systems to send and
receive short alphanumeric messages less than 160 characters in length is:
a.
b.
c.
d.
SMS.
WAP.
GSM.
WML.
Answer:
49.
Difficulty:
satellite system.
e-mail handheld.
fiber optic system.
geosynchronous satellite.
Answer:
48.
b
A BlackBerry Handheld is an example of a(n):
a.
b.
c.
d.
47.
Chapter 9
a
Difficulty:
Hard
Reference:
p. 309
Three out of four of the world’s estimated 2 billion cells phones are:
a.
b.
c.
d.
TCP.
WAP.
OSI.
GSM.
Answer:
d
Difficulty:
Hard
Reference:
p. 309
Chapter 9
50.
The Wireless Revolution
The world’s largest cell phone market is:
a.
b.
c.
d.
the United States.
Russia.
China.
Hong Kong.
Answer:
51.
Medium
Reference:
p. 309
b
Difficulty:
Hard
Reference:
p. 309
Third-generation (3G) cellular networks are based on __________________ technology
to achieve greater efficiencies and higher transmission speeds:
a.
b.
c.
d.
analog
digital
vacuum tubes
packet-switched
Answer:
d
Difficulty:
Medium
Reference:
p. 310
First-generation (1G) wireless cellular would be best described as a(n):
a.
b.
c.
d.
analog circuit-switched network for voice communication.
digital circuit-switched wireless network, primarily for voice communication.
interim step toward 3G in the United States.
high-speed, mobile, supports video and other rich media.
Answer:
54.
Difficulty:
2G.
3G.
4G.
5G.
Answer:
53.
c
Wireless cellular phone systems are entering this generation of networks:
a.
b.
c.
d.
52.
9-7
a
Difficulty:
Easy
Reference:
p. 310
Second-generation (2G) wireless cellular would be best described as a(n):
a.
b.
c.
d.
analog circuit-switched network for voice communication.
digital wireless network, primarily for voice communication.
interim step toward 3G in the United States.
high-speed, mobile, supports video and other rich media.
Answer:
b
Difficulty:
Easy
Reference:
p. 310
9-8
The Wireless Revolution
55.
WAP uses Wireless Markup Language (WML), which is based on __________________
and is optimized for tiny displays.
a.
b.
c.
d.
Java applets
Extensible Markup Language
artificial intelligence
fuzzy logic
Answer:
56.
Easy
Reference:
p. 310
a
Difficulty:
Easy
Reference:
p. 310
High-speed, mobile, supports video and other rich media, always-on for e-mail,
browsing, and instant messaging is classified as this generation of wireless cellular:
a.
b.
c.
d.
1G.
2G.
2.5G.
3G.
Answer:
d
Difficulty:
Easy
Reference:
p. 310
Medium
Reference:
p. 311
Reference:
p. 312
The IEEE standard for the WiMax is:
a.
b.
c.
d.
IEEE 802.15.
IEEE 802.11.
IEEE 802.16.
IEEE 802.20.
Answer:
59.
Difficulty:
1G.
2G.
2.5G.
3G.
Answer:
58.
b
Analog circuit-switched networks for voice communication is classified as this
generation of wireless cellular:
a.
b.
c.
d.
57.
Chapter 9
c
Difficulty:
Bluetooth is the popular name for this IEEE standard:
a.
b.
c.
d.
IEEE 802.15.
IEEE 802.11.
IEEE 802.16.
IEEE 802.20.
Answer:
a
Difficulty:
Medium
Chapter 9
60.
The Wireless Revolution
Bluetooth can be used to link up to __________________ devices within a 10-meter area
using low-power, radio-based communication.
a.
b.
c.
d.
four
six
eight
ten
Answer:
61.
Difficulty:
Easy
Reference:
p. 312
Bluetooth.
Wi-Fi.
WiMax.
VoIP.
Answer:
b
Difficulty:
Easy
Reference:
p. 312
Reference:
p. 313
The Wi-Fi 802.11a standard can transmit up to:
a.
b.
c.
d.
54 Mbps in the unlicensed 5-GHz frequency range
11 Mbps in the unlicensed 2.4-GHz range
54 Mbps in the 2.4-GHz range.
722 Kbps in the 2.4-GHz range.
Answer:
63.
c
The IEEE set of standards for wireless LANS is the 802.11 family, also known as:
a.
b.
c.
d.
62.
9-9
a
Difficulty:
Hard
The Wi-Fi 802.11b standard can transmit up to:
a. 54 Mbps in the unlicensed 5-GHz frequency range and has an effective distance of
10 to 30 meters.
b. can transmit up to 11 Mbps in the unlicensed 2.4-GHz band and has an effective
distance of 30 to 50 meters.
c. can transmit up to 54 Mbps in the 2.4-GHz range.
d. can transmit up to 722 Kbps in the 2.4-GHz range.
Answer:
64.
b
Difficulty:
Hard
Reference:
p. 313
A Wi-Fi system can operate in two different modes. Ad-hoc mode is also known as:
a.
b.
c.
d.
peer-to-peer mode.
local area network mode.
wide area network mode.
metropolitan area network mode.
Answer:
a
Difficulty:
Medium
Reference:
p. 313
9-10
The Wireless Revolution
65.
A ______________________ connects two LANS based on different technologies:
a.
b.
c.
d.
router
hub
bridge
hotspot
Answer:
66.
Easy
Reference:
p. 313
d
Difficulty:
Easy
Reference:
p. 313
One or more access points positioned on a ceiling, wall, or other strategic spot in a public
place to provide maximum wireless coverage for a specific area are referred to as:
a.
b.
c.
d.
laser spots.
hotspots.
infrared spots.
casting spots.
Answer:
b
Difficulty:
Easy
Reference:
p. 314
WiMax the IEEE 802.16 standard can transmit up to a distance of:
a.
b.
c.
d.
10 to 30 meters.
30 to 50 meters.
31 miles.
100 miles.
Answer:
69.
Difficulty:
clock
controller
modem
network interface card
Answer:
68.
c
Mobile wireless stations often need an add-in card called a _____________________
that has a built-in radio and antenna.
a.
b.
c.
d.
67.
Chapter 9
c
Difficulty:
Hard
Reference:
p. 317
EV-DO provides wireless access to the Internet over a cellular network at an average
speed of:
a.
b.
c.
d.
10 – 19 Kbps.
54 - 144 Kbps.
144 Kbps – 2+ Mbps.
300 - 500 Kbps.
Answer:
d
Difficulty:
Easy
Reference:
p. 317
Chapter 9
70.
The Wireless Revolution
When users move from wireless hotspot to wireless hotspot to gain network or Internet
access, it is sometimes referred to as:
a.
b.
c.
d.
nomadic computing.
itinerant computing.
roam computing.
travel computing.
Answer:
71.
Medium
Reference:
p. 318
a
Difficulty:
Easy
Reference:
p. 318
Easy
Reference:
p. 321
AOLbyPhone is an example of a(n):
a.
b.
c.
d.
m-commerce portal.
e-commerce portal.
voice portal.
wireless portal.
Answer:
c
Difficulty:
Purchases for items such as soft drinks and newspapers that are not well suited to credit
card billing would be best suited to this type of transaction:
a.
b.
c.
d.
EDI.
m-commerce.
e-commerce.
pervasive computing.
Answer:
74.
Difficulty:
M-commerce
B2B-e-commerce
B2C-e-commerce
C2C-e-commerce
Answer:
73.
a
_____________________ commerce applications have taken off for services that are
time-critical and appeal to people on the move.
a.
b.
c.
d.
72.
9-11
b
Difficulty:
Easy
Reference:
p. 321
In both the United States and Europe, micropayment services are based on a
“_____________________” model in which individual service providers run their own
separate payment systems.
a.
b.
c.
d.
flower garden
walled garden
enclosed garden
sacred garden
Answer:
b
Difficulty:
Easy
Reference:
p. 322
9-12
The Wireless Revolution
75.
In a RFID system, a(n) ____________________ is electronically programmed with
information that can uniquely identify an item, such as an electronic code.
a.
b.
c.
d.
reader
antenna
microchip
transponder
Answer:
76.
Easy
Reference:
p. 325
c
Difficulty:
Easy
Reference:
p. 325
These RFID tags are usually read-only and are programmed with data that cannot be
modified:
a.
b.
c.
d.
active.
passive.
receptive.
reactive.
Answer:
b
Difficulty:
Easy
Reference:
p. 326
Medium
Reference:
p. 326
RFID tag costs are currently:
a.
b.
c.
d.
between $1.00 and $20.00 each.
between $20.00 and $50.00 each.
about 19 cents.
under 5 cents.
Answer:
79.
Difficulty:
reactive.
passive.
active.
receptive.
Answer:
78.
d
Automated toll-collection systems use these types of RFID tags:
a.
b.
c.
d.
77.
Chapter 9
c
Difficulty:
Computers will become increasingly embedded in our natural movements and
interactions with our environments. This phenomenon is known as:
a.
b.
c.
d.
Murphy’s law.
passive computing.
active computing.
pervasive computing.
Answer:
d
Difficulty:
Easy
Reference:
p. 327
Chapter 9
80.
The Wireless Revolution
9-13
Atop 802.15.4 is the ____________________ protocol, which handles application-level
communication between devices.
a.
b.
c.
d.
ZigBee
TinyBee
BigBee
ZagBee
Answer:
a
Difficulty:
Hard
Reference:
p. 329
Fill in the Blanks
81.
Telematics services combine wireless communication with tracking capabilities from the
global position system.
Difficulty: Medium
82.
p. 306
Reference:
p. 307
Reference:
p. 308
Amoco uses satellites for real-time data transfer of oil exploration data gathered from
searches of the ocean floor.
Difficulty: Easy
87.
Reference:
A satellite is a specialized wireless receiver/transmitter that is launched by a rocket and
placed in orbit around the earth.
Difficulty: Easy
86.
p. 306
Microwave systems, both terrestrial and celestial, transmit high-frequency radio signals
through the atmosphere and are widely used for high-volume, long-distance, point-to-point
communications.
Difficulty: Hard
85.
Reference:
All wireless media rely on various parts of the electromagnetic spectrum.
Difficulty: Hard
84.
p. 306
OnStar from General Motors is an example of a telematics service for automobiles.
Difficulty: Medium
83.
Reference:
Reference:
p. 308
Conventional communication satellites move in stationary orbits approximately 22,000 miles
above the earth.
Difficulty: Easy
Reference:
p. 308
9-14
The Wireless Revolution
88.
Paging systems beep when the user receives a short alphanumeric message and are often
used for communicating with mobile workers.
Difficulty: Easy
89.
p. 309
Reference:
p. 309
Reference:
p. 309
Reference:
p. 309
Reference:
p. 309
General Packet Radio Service (GPRS) transports data over GSM wireless networks and
improves wireless Internet access.
Difficulty: Easy
97.
Reference:
The major standard for digital cellular services in the United States is Code Division
Multiple Access, which is the system used by Verizon, MCI, and Sprint.
Difficulty: Hard
96.
p. 308
The standard for digital cellular services in Europe is Global System for Mobile
Communication.
Difficulty: Hard
95.
Reference:
Smart phones can handle voice transmission and e-mail, save addresses, store schedules,
access a private corporate network, and access information from the Internet.
Difficulty: Easy
94.
p. 308
Personal digital assistants (PDAs) are small, handheld computers capable of entirely digital
communications transmission.
Difficulty: Easy
93.
Reference:
Older cellular systems are analog and newer cellular systems are digital.
Difficulty: Medium
92.
p. 308
Cellular telephones work by using radio waves to communicate with radio antennas (towers)
placed within adjacent geographic areas called cells.
Difficulty: Medium
91.
Reference:
e-mail handhelds, such as the BlackBerry Handheld are a popular method of wireless text
messaging.
Difficulty: Medium
90.
Chapter 9
Reference:
p. 310
Wireless Application Protocol (WAP) is a system of protocols and technologies that enables
cell phones and other wireless devices with tiny display screens, low-bandwidth connections,
and minimal memory to access Web-based information and services.
Difficulty: Medium
Reference:
p. 310
Chapter 9
98.
The Wireless Revolution
A(n) microbrowser is software with a small file size that can work with low-memory
constraints, tiny screens of handheld wireless devices, and the low bandwidth of wireless
networks.
Difficulty: Medium
99.
9-15
Reference:
p. 310
I-mode is the packet-based service for mobile phones offered by Japan’s leader in wireless
technology, NTT DoCoMo.
Difficulty: Medium
Reference:
p. 311
100. Wireless Application Protocol uses a gateway to encode and decode content and requests for
information from a cell phone to a Web server.
Difficulty: Medium
Reference:
p. 311
101. Bluetooth is the popular name for the 802.15 wireless networking standard, which is useful
for creating small personal area networks.
Difficulty: Medium
Reference:
p. 312
102. Devices in a Wi-Fi network operating in infrastructure mode communicate using access
points.
Difficulty: Medium
Reference:
p. 313
103. The 802.11b standard can transmit up to 11 Mbps in the unlicensed 2.4GHz band..
Difficulty: Medium
Reference:
p. 313
104. An access point is a box consisting of a radio receiver/transmitter and antennas that links to a
wired network, router, or hub.
Difficulty: Medium
Reference:
p. 313
105. A Wi-Fi system can operate in two different modes. In ad-hoc mode, also known as peer-topeer mode, wireless devices communicate with each other directly and do not use an access
point.
Difficulty: Medium
Reference:
p. 313
106. Mobile wireless stations often need an add-in card called a wireless network interface card
(NIC) that has a built-in radio and antenna.
Difficulty: Medium
Reference:
p. 313
107. Hotspots typically consist of one or more access points positioned on a ceiling, wall, or other
strategic spot in a public place to provide maximum wireless coverage for a specific area.
Difficulty: Medium
Reference:
p. 314
9-16
The Wireless Revolution
Chapter 9
108. EV-DO stands for Evolution Data Optimized.
Difficulty: Easy
Reference:
p. 317
109. EV-DO provides wireless access to the Internet over a cellular network at an average speed
of 300 to 500 Kbps.
Difficulty: Easy
Reference:
p. 317
110. Mobile computing enables Internet-enabled cell phones, PDAs, and other wireless
computing devices to access digital information on the Internet from any location.
Difficulty: Easy
Reference:
p. 318
111. Nomadic computing is the use of portable computing devices in conjunction with mobile
communications technologies to enable users to access the Internet from wireless hotspots.
Difficulty: Medium
Reference:
p. 318
112. m-commerce is the use of the Internet for purchasing goods and services as well as for
transmitting messages using wireless mobile devices.
Difficulty: Easy
Reference:
p. 318
113. Wireless portals feature content and services optimized for mobile devices to steer users to
the information they are most likely to need.
Difficulty: Easy
Reference:
p. 321
114. Voice portals accept voice commands for accessing Web content, e-mail, and other
electronic applications from a cell phone or standard telephone.
Difficulty: Easy
Reference:
p. 321
115. Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) systems use tiny tags with embedded microchips
containing data about an item and its location to transmit radio signals over a short distance
to special readers.
Difficulty: Medium
Reference:
p. 325
116. Active RFID tags are powered by an internal battery and typically enable tag data to be
rewritten and modified.
Difficulty: Medium
Reference:
p. 325
117. Passive RFID tags do not have a separate power source and obtain their operating power
from the radio frequency energy transmitted by the RFID reader.
Difficulty: Medium
Reference:
p. 326
Chapter 9
The Wireless Revolution
9-17
118. Computers will become increasingly embedded in our natural movements and interactions
with our environment. This phenomenon is known as pervasive computing.
Difficulty: Easy
Reference:
p. 327
119. Wireless sensor networks (WSNs) are networks of interconnected wireless devices that are
embedded into the physical environment to provide measurements of many points over large
spaces.
Difficulty: Easy
Reference:
p. 329
120. ZigBee, also called 802.15 is a proprietary set of high level communication protocols for
wireless sensor networks.
Difficulty: Easy
Reference:
p. 329
Essay Questions
121.
Identify at least five principal wireless transmission media and devices.
Technologies and devices for wireless transmission include: microwave transmission,
communication satellites, pagers, e-mail handhelds, personal digital assistants (PDAs),
cellular telephones, and smart phones. Personal computers are also starting to be used in
wireless transmission.
122.
Identify
. the two major cellular standards and briefly describe the evolution of these
networks.
The two major cellular standards include Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA), which is
used primarily in the United States, and Global System for Mobile Communication (GSM),
which is the standard in Europe and much of the rest of the world.
Cellular networks have evolved from slow-speed (1G) analog networks to high-speed highbandwidth digital packet-switched third-generation (3G) networks with speeds ranging from
144 Kbps to over 2 Mbps for data transmission. Second-generation (2G) cellular networks
are digital circuit-switched networks used primarily for voice transmission, but they can also
transmit data at rates ranging from 9.6 to 14.4 Kbps. 2.5G networks are packet-switched, use
many existing infrastructure elements, and have data transmission rates ranging from 50 to
144 Kbps.
9-18
The Wireless Revolution
123.
Chapter 9
What is the difference between Bluetooth and Wi-Fi 802.11b wireless technology?
Bluetooth can link up to eight devices within a 10-meter area using low-power, radio-based
communication and can transmit up to 722 Kpbs in the 2.4 – GHz band. Wireless phones,
keyboards, computers, printers, and PDAs using Bluetooth can communicate with each other
and even operate each other without direct user intervention.
The most popular standard of the 802.11 standards is currently 802.11b, which can transmit
up to 11 Mbps in the unlicensed 2.4 GHZ band and has an effective distance of 30 to 50
meters, although this range can be extended outdoors by using tower-mounted antennas. The
802.11b standard has been the most widely used standard for creating wireless LANs and
providing broadband wireless Internet access. However, 802.11b is vulnerable to penetration
by outsiders and interference from other wireless devices in the same frequency spectrum.
124.
What is the difference between Bluetooth and WiMax wireless technology?
Bluetooth can link up to eight devices within a 10-meter area using low-power, radio-based
communication and can transmit up to 722 Kpbs in the 2.4 – GHz band. Wireless phones,
keyboards, computers, printers, and PDAs using Bluetooth can communicate with each other
and even operate each other without direct user intervention.
WiMax has a wireless access range of up to 31 miles and a data transfer rate of up to 75
Mbps, making it suitable for providing broadband Internet access in areas lacking DSL and
cable lines. The 802.16 specifications also have robust security and quality of service
features to support voice and video.
125.
Evaluate the role of m-commerce in business. Identify some key areas where m-commerce is
useful.
M-commerce uses the Internet for purchasing goods and services as well as for transmitting
messages using wireless mobile devices. It is especially well-suited for location-based
applications, such as finding local hotels and restaurants, monitoring local traffic and
weather, and providing personalized location-based marketing. Mobile phones and
handhelds are being used for mobile bill payment, banking, securities trading, transportation
schedule updates, and digital music and game downloads.
126.
Explain the difference between wireless mobile portal, voice portals, and m-wallets.
Wireless portals (mobile portals) feature content and services optimized for mobile devices
to steer users to the information they are most likely to need. Voice portals accept voice
commands for accessing Web content, e-mail, and other electronic applications from a cell
phone or standard telephone.
M-commerce requires special digital payment systems that can handle micropayments,
because most m-commerce purchases today are for very small amounts. Mobile wallets (mwallets) expedite purchases by storing online shoppers’ personal information and credit card
numbers.
Chapter 9
127.
The Wireless Revolution
9-19
Describe how wireless technology can increase productivity and worker output.
Wireless technology increases productivity and worker output by providing anytime,
anywhere communication and access to information, including the information resources of
the Internet. Wireless communication helps businesses stay more easily in touch with
customers, suppliers, and employees and provides more flexible arrangements for organizing
work. Employees can make productive use of formerly wasted slices of time between larger
tasks.
128.
Describe three important wireless applications in business. Give examples.
Mobile applications are having a significant impact on customer relationship management
(CRM), supply chain management (CRM), and health care.



129.
Mobile CRM applications provide additional support for sales and
service activities at the point of customer interaction.
Mobile wireless technology facilitates supply chain management
by capturing data on the movement of goods as these events take
place and by providing detailed, immediate information as goods
move along supply chain partners. Radio frequency identification
(RFID) systems provide a powerful technology for this purpose.
Mobile technology is improving health care by delivering essential
information to physicians and nurses who constantly move from
place to place and capturing patient information for electronic
record systems at the point of creation.
Describe the main differences between a voice portal and a smart phone.
A voice portal is a Web site or other service that a user can reach by telephone. For example,
a voice portal accepts voice commands for accessing Web content, e-mail, and other
electronic applications from a cell phone or standard telephone. Mobile user with a cellular
telephone can dial in to a voice portal Web site and request information from a special voiceproducing program at the Web site. This sophisticated voice recognition software processes
the requests, and responses are translated back into speech for the customer.
Whereas a user with a smart phone can connect to the Internet and get information on a small
visual display, the user of a voice portal needs only a regular cellular phone. After
requesting information by speaking or pressing keys, the voice portal responds with voice
information or, in some cases, with an e-mail message. A smart phone can handle voice
transmission and e-mail; save addresses; store schedules; access a private corporate network;
and access information from the Internet. Some have embedded digital cameras.
9-20
The Wireless Revolution
130.
Chapter 9
Discuss how wireless transmission works to send signals.
Wireless transmission sends signals through the air or space without being tied to a physical
line. All wireless media rely on various parts of the electromagnetic spectrum. Some types
of wireless transmission, such as microwave or infrared by nature occupy specific spectrum
frequency ranges (measured in megahertz (MHz). Other types of wireless transmissions,
such as cellular telephones and paging devices, have been assigned a specific range of
frequencies by national regulatory agencies and international agreements. Each frequency
range has characteristics that have helped determine the specific function or data
communications niche assigned to it.
Microwave systems, both terrestrial and celestial, transmit high-frequency radio signals
through the atmosphere and are widely used for high-volume, long-distance, point-to-point
communication. Microwave signals follow a straight line and do not bend with the curvature
of the earth, therefore, long-distance terrestrial transmission systems require that
transmission stations be positioned about 37 miles apart, adding to the expense of
microwave.