Wireless technology has enabled individuals to communicate via cell phones, PDA’s, portable radios, email and wireless Internet devices. Whether you are in a meeting, on the golf course or vacationing in Peru, wireless technology allows you to communicate with business partners, administrators or family members. Wireless technology has transformed the way business is conducted in virtually every job profession. Individuals from government agencies, school districts, banks and delivery services use wireless technology to conduct business and transactions on a daily basis. It has improved the timelessness of communications, but has significantly hindered the privacy of these individuals.

Who is making use of wireless technology:

• Banks
  • Internet banking - access accounts from the beach using wireless Internet service.
  • Timely dissemination of information to clients
    
• School districts
  • Portable radios allow principals to communicate throughout the district.
  • Teachers can email student assignments and grades using a learning management system.
  • Distance learning applications
    
• Delivery services
  • UPS/FEDEX – Track deliveries and pick-ups with a PDA
    
• Trucking companies
  • Radios to communicate with their drivers on a 24/7 basis
    
• Stock brokers
  • Access to real time stock prices and transactions – wireless internet

Many advantages have emerged for individuals who use wireless devices on a daily basis. For example, using a cell phone and PDA allows for constant communications with business associates or family members. Email is another application transforming the way business is conducted around the world. Email allows you to have immediate feedback from a colleague or business partner, rather than waiting for a response via FedEx or the postal service. Many creative innovations have been combining these wireless features into one compact solution. Blackberry and PDA cell phones have allowed individuals to combine features of several wireless applications into one portable device. For example, a blackberry phone combines a cell phone, email and Internet portal into one wireless device.

Advantages of wireless technology:

• Cell phone vs. land line phone
  • Mobility, convenience, emergency situations
    
• PDA vs. post it notes, calendars, calculator
  • Portable, convenient, multi-purpose device
    
• Wireless Laptop/Network vs. PC
  • Accessibility, mobility, wire free
    
• E-mail vs. Snail mail (post office)
  • Faster, more convenient, instant response
    
• Wireless stock trading – personal broker
  • Mobile, portable, instant transactions

Cell phones are the most prominent form of wireless technology available today. With the popularity of cell phones increasing on a daily basis, many providers are offering attractive pricing packages to attract customers. Cell phones have transformed the availability and timelessness for reaching individuals around the world. Currently, there are over 125 million cell phones in service around the United States. It is forecast that there will be over 1.26 billion cell phones in use around the world by the end of 2005.

Wireless Technology – cell phone facts:

• Four times more likely to have a car accident while using a cell phone.
• Possibility of brain tumors and cancer from emissions
• Cell phones operate within cells or grids
• As you travel, the signal is passed from cell to cell
• Incredible range
• Each cell is - 10 square miles
• Each cell has a base station consisting of a tower and small building for the radio equipment.

One of the newest forms of wireless technology that has stormed the marketplace is a personal digital assistant (PDA). PDA's allow individuals to communicate via email and Internet communications. A PDA has applications such as a calendar, note pad, email and Internet browsing.

• Wireless Technology – PDA facts:
• Powered by batteries
• Doesn’t have a hard drive
• Stores (address book, calendar, etc.) in read-only memory
• Wireless Internet cards are available
• Relatively inexpensive

One of the most innovative and life altering forms of wireless technology has been the invention of the wireless Internet card. The card has allowed laptop users to access the Internet from virtually anywhere your service provider has coverage. Many carriers such as Verizon and AT&T offer coverage in many of the major metropolitan cities around the nation.

• Wireless Internet facts:
• Wireless Internet functionality extends to anywhere you receive cell phone coverage.
• Speed range from dial-up speed to high broadband speeds
• Prices range between $35 - $80 per month

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