The two main wireless services in use today are cellular and private packet radio. The service that is chosen will depend on the application(s) that a company or individual wants to run.

Cellular technology is commonplace in both the business and private sector.

There are two types of cellular technology: 1) circuit-switched cellular, and 2) Cellular Digital Packet Data (CDPD). One of circuit-switched cellular’s biggest advantages is its nationwide availability. Another advantage is the ability to send voice and data over the cellular phone network. Circuit-switched cellular is ideal if the application requires the exchange of long text messages, large files, or faxes because it typically charges by the mi

o the computing and information facilities. "There’s not much left that mobile computers don’t do as well or better than desktop systems. And when the remaining challenges are solved mobile technology will significantly change the face of computing" (Reinhardt 100). The fusion of computers and wireless communications, in this case LANs, will indeed have a considerable impact on the future, and will drastically change the way in which we do things.

A brief discussion of network history and architecture will be helpful in demonstrating the impact wireless communications have had and will continue to have on computing. The first generation of wireless LANs were designed to operate with workstations, and are not suitable for battery operated portable computers. The next generation wireless LANs are developing around the lap-top, palm-top, and pen-pad computers. Wireless connection is the natural medium for the portable computing devices that are growing in popularity. "In this environment researchers are thinking of new concepts such as ad hoc networking (Fig. 1 Appendix A), nomadic access (Fig. 2 Appendix A), and mobile computing that leads to the fusion of the computer and communications in a ubiquitous computing environment" (Chase 89). Typical applications of this process include a wireless campus or a wireless battlefield in which a user (student/soldier) can move withing a local area with continuous access t!

Personal Communication Systems (PCS) are considered to be the next major step in the evolution of communication systems. According to the defintion given by the U.S. Federal Communications Commission in its Notice of Inquiry, PCS is the system by which every user can exchange information with anyone, at anytime, in any place through any type of device, using a single personal telecommunication device. The underlying vision for the emerging mobile and personal communications services is to enable communication with a person at any time, at any place, and in any form (Li 1210). The main features of PCS are: 1) Multimedia services with high quality, 2) Multiple environments, 3) Multiple user types, 4) Global roaming capability, 5) Single personal telecommunication number (PTN), 6) Very high capacity, 7) Universal handset, and 8) Service security. The enabling concepts for providing universal personal communications include term

Some topics in this essay:
Generation System, Wireless Networks, Inquiry PCS, Mobile Data, Trend Power, Data CDPD, Communications Radio, Telecommunication Systems, INTRODUCTION Wireless, Packet Data, wireless communications, private packet radio, private packet, packet radio, generation system, terminal mobility, system capacity, wireless access, preprevailing stage, personal communication, generation wireless, personal mobility based, third generation system, single personal telecommunication, generation analog system,