Which "wireless that works" application wins the award for long-standing,
highly critical, and longest distance? That's the wireless at work at NASA;
in particular, the wireless technologies that are crucial in shuttle
missions.
Powerful wireless technologies and applications can be unique from one
mission to the next. This was the case with the recent payload experiments of
the NASA OMNI project (Operating Missions as Nodes on the Internet). This
project was in fact an example of successful wireless IP research on the
STS-107 (Space Transportation System) mission. There are certain wireless
systems and procedures however that are crucial to all missions.
Let's identify three primary stages of the space shuttle missions for which
wireless is very important: launch, orbi... (more)
You don't hear much about the Tauzin-Dingell Telecom Bill, unless you're in
Washington, DC, or in the camp of either the CLECs (Competitive Local
Exchange Carriers) who oppose it or the ILECs (Incumbent Local Exchange
Carriers) who we might assume all but wrote it. But Tauzin-Dingell (now in
the Senate) would allow the Baby Bells to keep their legacy networks and any
of their new broadba... (more)
A modern-day Atlantis of sorts, the city of Richmond, British Columbia,
Canada sits on an island - the delta of the Frazier River. A haven from the
watery depths surrounding it, the landmass is made mostly of sand and silicon
deposits from the river itself. The environment is flat - perfect for a
critical-needs wireless network.
How critical is the need? Some 180 pump stations situated ar... (more)
IM (instant messaging) for the enterprise is being touted as something new.
Don't you believe it. I recall using ICQ Corporate at an ISP in Cleveland in
1998. Is it news because Wall Street is starting to take it seriously? You
bet!
Today, serious broadband speeds are omnipresent in the enterprise. Broadband
delivers "instant," and everybody loves instant, not just the enterprise
(anyon... (more)
Alliances, competitors, technologies, hardware, and roaming line the path to
dual-mode, cellular/Wi-Fi handsets.
Another game of sit and wait has begun as major carriers ready themselves to
swallow small providers whole once they have fattened themselves with
successful Wi-Fi hotspots. Which end of this communications food chain are
you on? Free spectrum is a good motive for providers to ... (more)