These notes are taken from the Management Information Systems (MIS) course Managing the Digital Firm.
Wireless Computer Networks and Internet Access
Bluetooth – Bluetooth is a popular name for the 802.15 wireless networking standard, which is used primarily for creating small personal area networks (PANs). They link devices (up to eight) within a 10-meter area using low-power, radio-based communication and can transmit up to 722 Kbps in the 2.4-GHz band. Phones, pagers, computers, printers and computing devices can each use Bluetooth.
Wi-Fi – The 802.11 set of standards for wireless LANs and wireless Internet access is also known as Wi-Fi. The original standard that was adopted was 801.11b, which transmits up to 11 Mbps in the unlicensed 2.4-GHz band and has an effective distance of 30-50 meters.
Hotspots – These typically consist of access points that provide wireless Internet access in a public place like a hotel, an airport, a cafe, a campus. Sometimes they are free, sometimes they aren’t. Businesses use wi-fi networks to provide low-cost wireless LANs and Internet access.
Wi-Max – (Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access) is a wireless industry coalition dedicated to the advancement of IEEE 802.16 standards for broadband wireless access (BWA) networks. WiMAX supports mobile, nomadic and fixed wireless applications.
Follow Carl De Lucia on Twitter @cdelucia.
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