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Wireless networks of varying types including 2.5G and 3G are slowly
pervading society
November 20, 2002
Advanced 2.5G and 3G cellular networks are only the beginning as
other technologies, including WLAN, Bluetooth, radio frequency identification
(RFID) and even ultra wideband (UWB) networks are deployed. Cumulative
revenues garnered through the global adoption of these technologies,
excluding cellular, will likely exceed $33 billion by 2007, according
to Allied Business Intelligence (ABI).
Wireless technologies, nearly ubiquitous for voice communications,
will begin to penetrate new applications and platforms, including
industrial management and transportation. RFID, for example, is
now poised to revolutionize supply chain management through its
ability to remotely identify crates, boxes and even individual items
through "smart-labels." ABI research indicates that these applications
represent merely 1% of total RFID transponder shipments today, increasing
to represent about 46% of all shipments by 2007.
Even the family car will be wirelessly enabled. "By 2007, Bluetooth
and WLAN nodes will be common features for the automotive platform.
Initially geared towards telephony applications, Bluetooth nodes
will soon serve additional functions, including remote vehicle diagnostics,"
according to Frank Viquez, Director of Automotive Technologies at
ABI. The industry research firm expects 19% of all vehicles to become
equipped with Bluetooth by 2007.
Much of the information collected by these so-called personal area
networks (PAN) will still rely upon the widely available cellular
networks. "The 2.5G and 3G networks will bridge the gap between
the localized PAN and the broader Internet. All of these wireless
technologies will be codependent upon each other," says Edward Rerisi,
Director of Wireless Research at ABI. "In a sense, these various
network configurations will feed demand for the other segments,"
adds Mr. Rerisi.
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3G Motorola A920
