06-04-2003, 12:00 AM
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Executive Editor
Join Date: Aug 2006
Posts: 29,160
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Wi-Fi: Will It Fly or Will It Die?
"Yes, Wi-Fi, or 802.11b wireless networking, is springing up all over these days, from local Starbucks coffee houses to McDonald's restaurants to RV parks. And there are good reasons for its proliferation. First, it utilizes unlicensed radio spectrum, so virtually anyone can set one up anywhere. Second, the hardware is both inexpensive and easy to install, at least when compared to running coaxial cable throughout a building. Third, it's relatively fast, depending on your backhaul method: cable modem, digital subscriber line (DSL), or T1 line. Bottom line, Wi-Fi can provide a near-magical high-speed wireless connection to the world with little time, cost or effort.
But there's a cloud lurking behind Wi-Fi's silver lining. For one thing, no one's really discovered how to make money, or even break even, running a high-speed wireless data service -- whether it be proprietary, such as the recently resurrected Ricochet network, or an open standard, like T-Mobile's Wi-Fi Hotspot concept. Also, coverage is far from ubiquitous; in fact, it's downright skimpy. And it's those two issues that are beginning to be attacked by the major telecommunications carriers hoping to sway consumers to its 3G networks for wireless data access outside the home and office."
What do you think? Will carrier solutions like 3G prevail, or will WiFi kill the carriers?
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06-04-2003, 12:45 AM
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Thinker
Join Date: Jul 2002
Posts: 309
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I vote for 3G!! it can be everywhere, where wifi is not.
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06-04-2003, 12:46 AM
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Philosopher
Join Date: Jul 2003
Posts: 495
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Community WiFi Networks, activate!
I love how the dark cloud is that no one can make money from it. If only we didn't live in the world where only money mattered... if only.
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06-04-2003, 12:50 AM
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Contributing Editor Emeritus
Join Date: Aug 2006
Posts: 8,228
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I do not understand the whole WiFi vs Cellular thing. It is as senseless as WiFi vs bluetooth. the only ones arguing the latter are BT hardware makers trying desperately to save their business since BT is, right now, a failure. It works for so few people. 
The only way I see WiFi competing with cellular is when you can throw up WiFi towers nationwide that throw signals for *milel* and sell everyone VoIP devices, and THAT is a fantasy. 3G and 4G will be here before that. WiFi will ultimately be the death of CAT5 cables for clients at houe and the office, but it has as much to offer in the voice/data arena over loooooooooong distances as a Lear Jet has to offer me getting to the grocery store. :roll:
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06-04-2003, 12:52 AM
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Philosopher
Join Date: Jul 2003
Posts: 495
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Ed, read up on the community projects, please. There are wifi links over miles already in some places. Links as far as 27 miles I believe... point to point.
For community projects, 802.11 is great. But I see your point on the long haul.
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06-04-2003, 01:07 AM
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Sage
Join Date: Jul 2003
Posts: 651
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I love Wi-Fi and i've been using it since it hit the market but the thing that really made me happy was when I got my sprint 1X card. The reason is that I can go anywhere that sprint has service in and I know that I can get on the net without running netstumbler beforehand :wink: . That said you can setup wifi to act like cellular towers. I have 3 access points setup this way at home and it works great, but once I'm 1000 feet away from my house then it's back to the 1X card until I get to a place I know has wi-fi. Both technologies have their place in the market, I just wish these wifi service providers didn't bill wifi use like cellular.
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06-04-2003, 01:32 AM
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Pontificator
Join Date: Jul 2003
Posts: 1,041
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WiFi may be just a value added service and cheap advertising. With the more available coffee houses, what makes me choose one or the other? Starbucks has WiFi, Pete's does not. Why would I go to Borders over Barnes and Noble? Borders has Wifi, B&N does not.
There are a lot of people who study & work in WiFi equipped places. A celluar connection just won't be as quick enough to satisfy the masses.
True cellular is everyway, but it's slow. Also, I don't need access to my e-mail THAT often. In a pinch, I use my BT phone to do a quick check. But my cell phone is only for those "MUST CHECK E-MAIL" days, and they don't happen often.
To get carriers to upgrade to 3G or whatever they're talking about, it will cost millions. WiFi is cheap and I don't think it should be thought of as a way to make money, but value.
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06-04-2003, 01:33 AM
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Thinker
Join Date: Feb 2002
Posts: 384
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Roaming ...
For general business purposes, 3G and stationary wireless is the only bets in town.
Wi-Fi wasn't designed to be metered, nor was it designed to allow roaming. There are other Specs in the works that INCLUDE these capabilities.
As far as community networks go, I'm all for them. Just remember that you need to buy the appropriate bandwidth. Your broadband provider is right to insist that you not resell or "give away" bandwidth. If you want to do that, you need to purchase a different type of connection for internet access.
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06-04-2003, 02:36 AM
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Magi
Join Date: Sep 2005
Posts: 2,341
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I think if you look at WiFi from a cellular providers standpoint it might fly. If they can build networks of WiFi networks :roll: in the highly populated downtown, metro areas to supply data transfers in these areas, it will lighten the load on their cellular networks. This should be a much more cost effective way for them. Once we have Wanda type devices that can handle handoffs to different network types we can have a relatively seemless system that could be faster, and more economical.
Plus, don't you get the feeling that the cellular providers are looking for any excuse not to do the 3G thing. 
Dave
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06-04-2003, 02:50 AM
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Ponderer
Join Date: Dec 2004
Posts: 54
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I love 3G. My new Sprint phone supplied by my employer has unlimited 3G access. I went to Radio Shack and bought the Future Dial Snap Dialer software and cable, hooks up to the USB on my laptop and I'm good to go. Now, if only I could find drivers that worked for my Toshiba E740 expansion pack...
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Linear Mode
