Convergence: 802.11, Bluetooth, 1xRTT, GPRS
My consulting business focuses on creating new wireless data businesses or enhancing existing ones. There's no doubt: one of the ways to build a wireless data business is to look for ways to integrate multiple, useful technologies.
Take the next generation wide area wireless networks now being launched -- GSM GPRS and CDMA2000 1xRTT -- and see if you can add any other valuable data protocol. Alternatively, look at the local area wireless (802.11) or personal area wireless (Bluetooth) networks and see about integrating wide area technologies.
That's exactly what's happening, and it's good news. GTRAN Wireless has just announced it is developing a dual-mode PC Card using Intersil's 802.11 chips for WiFi/1xRTT access. Previously, I wrote about Nokia developing a tri-mode PC Card for GPRS, 802.11b and high speed circuit switched data.
In addition, IBM just announced it would be a systems integrator for Nokia 802.11 infrastructure equipment. Not many people know Nokia is in the WLAN business.
Intersil and Silicon Wave announced today that they were developing a WiFi/Bluetooth product: Blue802.
Not whether, but to what extent
As I have been writing for months, the question is not whether the cellular industry will offer WiFi services, but to what extent. Major cellular operators around the world are scratching their heads over whether and how to enter the WiFi space. As I've also written, I suspect at least two other U.S. cellular operators will announce WiFi partnerships this year.
WiFi certainly will not "kill" 2.5G and 3G systems. But it will change the business models for cellular operators.
Business 2.0: Thanks for the mention,
but what about 802.11b Networking News?
The May issue of Business 2.0 (which has published several articles about WiFi during the past few months), includes an 802.11 "resources" page and mentions my Weblog as being a good of information about WiFi and other wireless data trends. Thank you Owen Thomas for the mention.
In March, Owen quoted me in an article about WiFi vs. 3G. I was first alerted to my mention in this most recent issue by Glenn Fleishman, freelance technology writer, columnist and writer of the 802.11b Networking News. Glenn was a bit miffed that my Weblog was included as a WiFi resource, but not his. I agree. If there's any Weblog -- indeed, if there's any Web site that should be highlighted -- as a superb 802.11 resource, it's Glenn's. Glenn, you wuz robbed!
5:38:42 PM 
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