Hot unwired!

Wireless technology has changed the way people understand networking and has had a huge impact on IT and telecommunications

• The mega IT show is ON
• Gadgets galore!
• It's all about connections
• Check, it's all in there
• Security matters
• A brilliant platform
• The future is now
• Perfect visual experience
• Capture those moments
• Enter home theatre
• Hot unwired!
• Getting connected
• Integrated solutions
• A world of possibilities
• Playing multiple roles
• Taking you places
• Productivity: Name of the game
• Advantage faxes!
• Take your pick
• It does more than just destruct files

Mobile devices such as laptops, handheld gadgets and mobile phones have freed us from the shackles of physical or fixed connection communication and computing.

Powered by wireless technologies, these gadgets have created exciting new applications and have enabled a world of possibilities.

Gadgets go mobile

For instance, desktop PCs are fast becoming obsolete with the rapid advances in mobile computing with portable computers such as the ultra portables and tablet PCs emerging as the new ‘wunderkids'.

A lot of their capabilities can be attributed to their powerful processors.

For instance, Intel's Centrino mobile technology has helped evolve a generation of small and sleek laptops with features including wireless fidelity (Wi-Fi) as well as sharper and more advanced multimedia capabilities.

"Mobile computing is the an important trend in the market, supported by the fast buildout of wireless networks across the region, from using wireless networks within the office environment through to accessing the Internet using mobile GSM networks," says Mohammad Sharaf, Marketing Manager, Lenovo Group Middle East.

"Many of the region's mobile operators now support fast Internet access for people wherever they are, at speeds that go beyond the dial-up speeds available from fixed line access.

"That means access to information wherever you are, when you need it and how you need it. It's changing the way that people are using computers today and we see this trend as an exciting one," he says.

Today, in addition to their computers, business travellers can literally have their office at hand anywhere and anytime they want access on account of portable and wireless gadgets ranging from routers to printers and technologies including voice over Internet protocol (VOIP).

Another gadget that's being radically influenced by mobile wireless technology is the mobile phone.

A forecast by the renowned US research firm Gartner, Inc, predicts that 2.6 billion mobile phones will be in use by the end of 2009.

According to a report on the Nokia website, more people than ever are reaching for their mobile rather than a landline to talk to someone.

The trend, says the report, is accelerating to the extent that by 2007 about half of the world's predicted nine billion phone minutes will be spent over mobile networks.

Mobile phones have moved from analogue-based first generation technology to second-generation digital technology that enabled better security, more efficient network management and new data applications.

The trend is now moving towards third generation technology, which allows higher-speed data communications, multimedia messaging, have video calls, and mobile computing applications.

One can browse the Internet, send emails, download songs and undertake numerous other applications, once considered difficult because of the speed of data transfer on existing networks.

Convergence is key

Digital convergence has also motivated the emergence of hybrid devices such as the smart phone, which combines cellular functionality with personal information management (PIM) offered by personal digital assistants (PDAs).

Thus, a business executive would not require even a laptop in the near future, as their phone would perform the necessary computing functions as well.

Eddy Rizyk, Senior Communications Manager, Nokia (Middle East and Africa) attributes this to the following: "The penetration of mobile phones is far higher than that of PCs.

"Therefore, technology is changing to allow subscribers access to the Internet to get information, send out and receive emails, watch a movie and listen to music among other things through their mobile phone.

"This factor has also fuelled the development of wireless mobile technologies such as GPRS, Edge and 3G."

The wireless world

Wireless technologies are the real stars of the game. Bluetooth and Wi-Fi are two such standards that have enhanced the concept of mobility.

"Both these technologies are wireless networking standards that provide connectivity via radio waves," says Venu Menon, Divisional Director, OnLine Distribution.

Bluetooth allows devices to communicate wirelessly, but it is only useful for a short range and generally not used for home networking but rather for networking personal devices such as Bluetooth-enabled mobile phones, laptops and printers.

"The main difference is that Bluetooth is primarily used to replace cables while Wi-Fi is largely used to provide wireless high-speed access to the Internet or the local area network," says Menon.

Wi-Fi techn