Types of Wireless Technologies

It wasn't so long ago that "wireless technology" invoked thoughts of brick-like cellular phones. Today, the term "wireless" refers to a variety of technologies and devices, from smartphones to computers and printers to headphones and speakers, connecting with one or more methods. Current wireless phones, for example, may include 3G and 4G cellular radios, Wi-Fi and Bluetooth technologies. As these technologies advance, investing in the latest wireless equipment, such as a 4G phone or 802.11ac router, could offer you serious speed improvements.

 

• Wi-Fi 

Primarily associated with computer networking, Wi-Fi uses the IEEE 802.11 specification to create a wireless local-area network that may be secure, such as an office network, or public, such as a coffee shop. Usually a Wi-Fi network consists of a wired connection to the Internet, leading to a wireless router that transmits and receives data from individual devices, connecting them not only to the outside world but also to each other.

 

• Cellular

Most often associated with wireless phones, a cellular network uses connected transmitters, or cells, that enable the user to move about while remaining in contact with the network. Cells transmit at low power levels so as not to interfere with each other and may be spaced far apart in rural areas or close together in cities. Cellular networks rarely offer complete coverage, and due to a number of factors, you may have experienced "dead zones" with no coverage at all.

 

• Bluetooth 

While both Wi-Fi and cellular networks enable connections to anywhere in the world, Bluetooth is much more local, with the stated purpose of "replacing the cables connecting devices," according to the official Bluetooth website. That's precisely what Bluetooth does; it connects iPods to car stereos, wireless keyboards and mice to laptops or cell phones to the ubiquitous hands-free earpieces.

 

• WiMAX

While over-the-air data is fast becoming the realm of cellular providers, dedicated wireless broadband systems also exist, offering fast Web surfing without connecting to cable or DSL. One well-known example of wireless broadband is WiMAX, offered by providers such as Clear or Skyriver. Although WiMAX can potentially deliver data rates of more than 30 megabits per second, providers offer average data rates of 6 Mbps and often deliver less, making the service significantly slower than hard-wired broadband.