meaning: The Macer View/7

	The Macer View
	Comment and analysis from Tim Macer Number 7, October 2003

Resources

Software reviews

Software database

Reports & Thinkpieces

Conference papers

Press articles

The Macer View

Wireless networking: going unplugged is more than a gimmick.

Wireless networking may not sound like something to get excited about, but for many IT users, it is an unexpected joy when they discover it. If you are thinking of getting a new laptop, don’t think of getting one without it. This is real life-enhancing technology, as I have discovered since I became a convert last year.

There is some confusion because there are two very different forms of wireless communications around, with two distinct purposes- and it is sensible to get both. Wi-fi, or wireless fidelity uses the IEEE 802.11 standard for wireless networking.

What that means is instead of one of those brightly coloured network cables, you talk to your office network by short-distance digital radio. It is similar to using a domestic cordless phone and shares a similar range. Like a cordless phone, you communicate with a base station that is physically plugged into the network.

The kit available today uses 802.11b or 802.11g (g is newer and faster, but both are largely compatible with one another). Intel market their solution as Centrino; for Mac users it is Airport. As the standard is the same, both work interchangeably and with either you can take advantage of the growing number of Wi-fi hotspots in coffee shops, hotels and elsewhere. GNER is about to begin trialling it on its trains.

The other wireless method is Bluetooth, which lets your laptop communicate wirelessly with your mobile phone to use it as a cellular modem. This used to be slow and expensive, but now, with GPRS, you pay by the amount of data not the airtime. At £2.50 per megabite it is still not cheap, but I avoid large bills by restricting incoming emails to the first 50K of text and picking up attachments when back at the office.

For a few pounds a month I have the tremendous comfort of knowing I can email, send and receive files wherever I am, even elsewhere in Europe. When I can, I use Wi-fi hotspots and been amazed how easy it is to get online often for price of buying a cappuccino. OK, so it does look a bit posey. But the secret revelation has been going wireless at home. Not only do you avoid drilling holes in the wainscoting, but you can use the internet wherever you like. I find it sheer bliss not to be shut away in the spare room whenever I have an email to send, or want to look up something on the web.

Wi-fi is sensible technology but has real business benefits in MR, where having access to the latest set of data, when out with a client, can bring the kind of responsiveness clients are looking for. At the very least, get Wi-fi in your meeting room. Not only do you banish forever the hunt for the live network point and the cable that is long enough, but your clients will love it when they realise they too (if they wisely bought Wi-fi) can safely borrow your internet connection.