Wireless technology encompasses everything from the latest smartphone to the wireless router that is pushing out WiFi signals throughout your home. A few centuries ago, wireless technology may have meant sending a telegram to your grandmother for her to view a few days later, but today it means having instantaneous access to anyone in just about any place. Technology is moving fast, but so are people. We have demands in business and social life that make speed and coverage matter. So, broadband service providers are constantly striving to make absolute interconnectivity possible at the fastest speeds in the largest number of areas. This continuous movement towards better standards is what defines wireless technology news. The first mobile phone was born in the late 80s, really took off in the mid-90s and by the 21st century, became an absolute necessity. Today, cell phones are updated almost every three months, and what was new then is old news now. Smartphones are capable of tasks that computers weren’t a few years ago.
What about the wireless networks that these devices are running on? Currently, most of our voice calls are made through 3G networks such as CDMA and EDGE, which cover much of the world. Now, many are shifting to adopt 4G technologies, with speeds of 100 Mbps that far surpass current market speeds. The two versions that are in competition now are the WiMax and the LTE standards. WiMax technology has been shown to meet the technical requirements of 4G and is designed as an alternative to DSL and cable. This means that video and other such large data packets can be transferred more effectively. In the US, Sprint has taken the initiative to deploy WiMax first and became the first 4G wireless service provider. LTE technology has faced many controversies about meeting “true 4G” requirements. LTE Advanced, a newer version of LTE that is now under development is supposed to meet and surpass 4G requirements. Many companies such as Verizon have taken up the technology and have launched it in a few regions.
Where did wireless technology get its start? Read about the history of wireless technology for a comprehensive overview.