Chapter 7: Wireless, Mobile Computing and Mobile Commerce

1. Identify common wireless devices and their application to business
- The Wireless Application Protocol (WAP) - is the standard that enables wireless devices with tiny display screens, low-bandwidth connections, and minimal memory to access Web-based information and services.
E.g. pagers, e0mail handhelds, personal digital assisstants (PDAs) and mobile phones. The capabilities of tehse devices include: bluetooth, Wi-Fi, a digital camera, address book, access to email, instant messaging, MP3 player, internet access -The Blackberry 8800.

2. Describe the various types and general characteristics of wireless transmission media/technologies - microwave, satellite, infrared and radio waves.
-Microwave transmission systems are widely used for high volume, long distance, line-of-sight communication (transmitter and reciever must be in view of each other). Therefore, microwve toweres cant be spaced more than 30 miles apart as world is curved not flat. Susceptible to environmental interference during sever weather such as heavy rain/snow storms. Being replaced by staellite communication systems.
- Satelllite Transmission systems: make use of communication satelittes. currently, there are three types of satellites around the earth: geostationary (GEO), medium earth orbit (MEO), and low earth orbit (LEO). Geo fartherst for the eart and LEO the closest. As with microwave transmission, satellites must recieve and transmit data via line of sight. It overcomes the limitations of microwave data relay stations becsue the hight the satellite orbits, the larger the footprint. In contrast to line of sight transmission with microwave, satellites use broascast transmission, whcih sends signals to many recievers at one time. So, even though satellites are line-of-sight like microwave, they are high enough for broadcast transmission, this overcoming the limitations of microwave.
- radio transmisson: uses radio-wave frequencies to send data directly between transmitters abd recievers. radio transmission has several advanatages: radio waves travel through normal office walls, inexpensive and easy to install, transmit data at high speeds. Therefore, being used to connect computers to LAN and peripheral equiptment.
- Infrared Transmission: Infrared light is a red light that is not commonly visible to human eyes. Common applications include: remote cotrols for tv, VCRs, DVDs and CD players. Used for short -distance connections between computers and peripheral equiptment and LAN.

3. What is bluetooth/how is it used?
Is a industry specification used to create small personal area networks (a computer netwrok used for communication amongcomputer devices clsoe to one person). A bluetooth is a chip technology that enables short-range connection (data and vocie) between wireless devices. E.g mobile phones.

4. What are WLAN's, Wi-Fi, WWAN's, WiMax?
- Wireless Local Areda Network (WLAN): A computer network in a limited geograpical area taht used wireless transmission for communication.
- Wireless Fidelity (Wi-Fi): is a medium range WLAN, which is basically a wired LAN but without cables
- Wireless Wide Area Networks (WWANs) :Wireless WANs, which can bridge branch offices of a company, cover a much more extensive area than wireless LANs. Unlike WLANs, which offer limited user mobility and instead are generally used to enable the mobility of the entire network, WWANs facilitate connectivity for mobile users such as the traveling businessman. In general, WWANs allow users to maintain access to work-related applications and information while away from their office.
- Wireless Broadband or WiMax: has a wireless access range of up to 31 miles, compared to 300 feet for Wi-Fi and 30 feet for bluetooth. It is a secure system, and it offers features such as voicve and video.
WiMAX, a contraction of Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access, is a telecommunications technology that provides for the wireless transmission of data in a variety of ways, ranging from point-to-point links to full mobile cellular-type access. The technology provides broadband speed without the need for cables.

5. What are the drivers of mobile computing and m0bile commerce
Mobile commputing: refers to a real-time, wireless connection between a mobile device and othercomputing environments, such as internet/intranet. 2 characteristics that differentiate it from other forms of computing: mobility and broad breach. Mobility is based on the fact that users carry a mobile device with them and can initiate a real-time contract with other systems from wherever tehyhappent o be. Broad rech refers to the fact taht when users carry an open mobile device they can be reached instantly.
Mobile Commerce: Electronic commerce transactions that are conducted in a wireless environment, especially via the internet.
The developemnt of m-commerce is driven by the following factors:
- Widespread availability of mobile devices.
- No need for a PC. Access internet via a smart phone or another wireless device.
- The "cellphone culture": widespread use of mobile phones.
- Declining prices: price of wiireless devices is declining and will continue to decline.
Bandwidth improvement: to conduct m-commerce you need sufficeint bandwidth for transmitting text, voice, video and multimedia. Wi-Fi, 3G cellular technology, and WiMax provide the neccessary bandwidth.

6. Be able to explain how mobile technologies can be applied to business solutions

7. Explain the nature of RFID
Radio Frequency Identification Technology: A wireless system that allows manufacturers to attach tags with antennas and computer chips on goods and then track their movement through radio signals. Was developed to replace barcodes. An RFID tag is an object that can be applied to or incorporated into a product, animal, or person for the purpose of identification and tracking using radio waves. Some tags can be read from several meters away and beyond the line of sight of the reader. Tags remain expensive so not used in low-priced items.

8. Identify the 4 main security threats that arise from the use of mobile technologies
The 4 major threats to wireless networks are rogue access points, war driving, eavesdropping, and radio frequency jamming.
-A rogue access point is an unauthorised access point to a wireless network.
-war driving is the act of locating WLANs while driving (or walking) around. To war drive all you need is a Wi-Fi detector and a wireless enabled computer.
-Eavesdropping refers to efforts by unauthorised users to access data taht are travelling over wireles networks.
-Radio Frequency jamming a person or a device intentionally or unintentioanlly interferes with your wiureless network transmissions.