Wireless

Free WiFi Coming to Starbucks

I have never understood why Starbucks charged for their wifi hotspot access. I understood why TMobile wanted to make some money off of the deal, but wifi hotspots are everywhere. I like Starbucks, but Panera has free wifi, other coffee shops, bakeries, and restaurants have free wifi. Heck, I got new tires on my car the other day and the tire store offered free wifi in the waiting room. The Internet is available for free virtually anywhere, so I could never understand why someone would pay $20 or $30 a month, or even worse $10 a day, for the privilege of accessing it at a Starbucks. Well, no more! Almost. AT&T has won the contract for Starbucks from TMobile and they are offering a revamped pricing structure. Subscribers to the AT&T broadband Internet service will be able to access the Starbucks wifi for free. Patrons who use a Starbucks card, will be able to access the Starbucks wifi for free for the first 2 hours per day. Additional time will cost money, but less than patrons are used to paying for the TMobile wifi hotspot access. Now, if McDonald’s would get on the free wifi bandwagon too American caffeine and fast food consumers will be all set.

Rogue Wireless Devices Create Security Risk

Wireless networks can be cost effective and help employees to be more productive, freeing them to move about while still maintaining access to necessary data and network resources. Since the inception of wireless networking though, corporations have struggled with the security implications. With compliance mandates such as the PCI Data Security Standards, or HIPAA, it is even more important that companies are aware of every possible vector of risk to their network resources and data assets. However, so many devices have wireless functionality now, and it is so easy for users to set up rogue wireless networks without authority, that it is extremely difficult to stay on top of the security issue. Mobile device security: Auditing the airwaves, by Lisa Phifer takes a look at these issues and some ways administrators can monitor for, detect, and proactively manage the wireless access to their networks.

Wi-Fi Networks Enter 4th Generation

New 4th-generation wireless networking equipment is entering the market. We started with consumer-based wireless equipment with virtually no security, then enterprise quality products with improved security were released. The current standard, the 3rd-generation wireless networks, have centralized controllers that help enable the hand-off between access points as users move about, and even more improved security. The next generation though, based on 802.11n technology, allows all access points to share a channel and greatly improves the hand-off from access point to acccess point. Unlike previous wireless implementations, which require careful placement of access points to maximize coverage while avoiding channel interference, 4th-generation wireless networks allow for denser, and simpler deployments. Take a look at this SearchNetworking.com article for more details about next-generation wireless for the enterprise: Wireless networking heads into fourth generation — but should you follow?

Hyperconnectivity: Accessing the Internet Anywhere From Everything

At some point in the future, maybe the next generation will simply see the rate of evolution of technology as a given. A normal way of life. On a day to day basis, I don’t think that much about it, but when I look back and realize just how much has been invented, and developed in just the past 10 or 15 years, and the rate that technology changes, it is somewhat mind-boggling. It wasn’t that long ago that 56Kbps modems were considered to be blazing fast. But, the extent of most users access to the Internet was from their employer’s network, or via dial-up on a 56k modem from home. Now, there are still some stubborn stragglers using dial-up, but broadband access with 24/7 connectivity is becoming the norm instead of the exception for home users. Notebook computer sales, even for consumers, have skyrocketed. Cell phones are PDA’s and mini-computers all rolled into one. From my cell phone, I can surf the Web, look up a phone number, click the linked phone number, and automatically initiate a call. While I used to have to be in my home or at my office desk to access the Internet, now I can access the Internet from almost anything and almost anywhere. This article from Computerworld takes a mort in-depth look at the trend of “hyperconnectivity” and what it means for the future of technology and communications.

Choosing a Wireless Platform

If you are a road-warrior and do most, if not all, of your computing from anywhere but your desk in your office, you need to know how to stay connected. Whether you are in a hotel, driving down the interstate, waiting for a flight at an airport, or stopping off for a cup of coffee, you want to be able to access your email, the Web, and other Internet-based resources. There are some emerging and cutting edge technologies that are not quite ready for primetime, but, according to network expert Lisa Phifer, you basically have to choose between 3G and WiFi. Take a look at this overview for more advice from Lisa about the pros and cons, and the factors you should consider in choosing which wireless platform works best for you.

Projected Network Infrastructure Spending For 2008

What are your plans for your network infrastructure for 2008? Do you have a holiday wish list or some New Year’s resolutions regarding the technologies you want to implement or the changes you plan to make? TechTarget’s SearchNetworking site conducted a survey of over 1,200 respondents and they have published the results. Some of the key results are:

• 21.28% project an increase in their budget of more than 10%
• 7.26% of respondents said their networking budgets will decrease
• 8.34% claim that VoIP/data convergence is driving their budget increase

Check out Applications, convergence to boost network spending for the complete results. You can read it just out of curiosity, or maybe you can use the survey results to help prove your case to management and get your budget requests approved.

Researchers Propose Vehicles As Wireless Network Nodes

Researchers at UCLA are working on developing a concept to use vehicles as nodes in a sort of fluid mobile mesh of wireless nodes connected in a mobile adhoc, or peer-to-peer network allowing vehicles to communicate with each other and access the Internet. Some of the benefits would be the ability for vehicles to communicate with each other in real time to provide relevant safety and logistical information such as weather conditions or traffic jams. The concept faces many challenges not found in static, land-based wireless networks such as the need to be able to determine the signal strength, speed, and direction of each node in order to select the best connection path. The UCLA Newsroom web site has more details in an article titled Taking It to the Streets: UCLA Scientists Seek to Turn Cars Into a Mobile Communications Network.

Cisco Buys Its Way Into WiMax Technology

WiMax, based on the 802.16 standard, claims a transmission range 100 times greater than standard 802.11 WiFi networks. Because WiMax devices will be able to connect over a much larger area than standard wireless networks allow, WiMax offers more potential for developing large-scale wireless networks that cover entire cities or counties. Cisco is jumping into the WiMax fray through the acquisition of Navini Networks, Inc. According to a report on Computerworld.com, “Cisco said it is particularly interested in Navini’s expertise with “smart beamforming” technologies used with multiple-input, multiple output antenna arrays, which in Wi-Fi systems allow base stations to handle much higher data throughput.”

WiMax and 3G Converge

It has been one of those epic technology battles: VHS v. Betamax, Windows v. Mac, BlueRay v. HD DVD, WiMax v. 3G, etc. Well, VHS definitely beat Betamax. The Windows v. Mac battle is debatable with near religious zealotry on either side. The Blueray v. HD DVD battle may be decided this holiday season. But, apparently the WiMax v. 3G battle has been decided by converging them into the same standard, making them both winners. Mobile phone service providers around the globe have battled between the two wireless technologies as mobile phones and wireless networking have converged. Read this ZDNet article for more details: WiMax Joins 3G Family.

Wired Networks R.I.P.

According to a recent report from Burton Group Senior Analyst Paul DeBeasi, the end of wired Ethernet networking is at hand. Comparing the features and functionality of the latest standards- 802.11n wireless vs. wired Gigabit Ethernet- DeBeasi concludes that the benefits of an 802.11n network will establish it as the default network type and chip away at the dominance of wired networks over the next few years. You can read more about the report in this Computerworld.com article.