The Essential Guide to Wireless Communications Applications: From Cellular Systems to WAP and M-commerce (Essential Guides (Prentice Hall)) [Paperback]

Alongside any big leap forward in technology, comes a bewildering new selection of abbreviations and acronyms. So it is with the spread of Web applications to mobile devices, with the advent of WAP, SMS and i-Mode. All of a sudden, we see telecommunications professionals grappling with the problems of Web servers and mark-up languages, and computer programmers are found puzzling over the meaning of GPRS, UMTS, CDPD and all the other wireless communications terms being bandied about.

Andy Dornan's The Essential Guide to Wireless Communications Applicationsis aimed at that latter group, and is an excellent guide to the major wireless communications technologies in use today, and those that will appear over the next few years. He writes in clear, non-technical language and reading this book will dispel the clouds of confusion over the many three- (and four-) letter abbreviations that litter wireless communications.

Senior editor specialising in wireless technology at Networkmagazine, Andy Dornan is well placed to explain how wireless data communications have developed from the early analogue networks, through to today's 2G and 21/2G digital systems, and onto the high-capacity 3G networks of tomorrow. Along the way, he ensures the reader understands how radio is used to transfer voice and data, takes a look at the Mobile Data Services technologies such as WAP, c-HTML(i-Mode), SMS and walks us through the infrastructure of a voice and GPRS network. The book also covers the short range wireless technologies such as Bluetooth and IrDA.

This is an excellent book for the mobile computing professional who needs a clear understanding of the wireless communications technologies that make it all work. --Andy Wigley

For introductory and continuing ed courses in wireless communication.

This text is designed to look beyond the hype, examining just what is and isn't possible with present-day and future wireless systems. It is primarily focused on the applications, but to understand these properly requires a look at the underlying technology.

Your complete guide to today's "killer" wireless apps-and tomorrow's!

• Covers EVERYTHING you can do with wireless technology!
• The wireless Web: WAP and beyond
• Mobile e-commerce: security, payment systems, and more
• PCS and high-bandwidth 3G cellular
• Bluetooth: breakthrough short-range wireless applications
• For consumers, investors, executives, marketing/PR professionals, and developers

The next-generation wireless and mobile Internet revolution is under way! Now here's a complete guide to next-generation wireless applications and their business impact, written specifically for nontechnical professionals. The Essential Guide to Wireless Communications Applications covers all the latest developments, from the wireless Web to Bluetooth, WAP to 3G, and beyond. Coverage includes:

• 3G wireless multimedia and personal services: revolutionary convenience, global compatibility
• M-commerce: Buy anywhere, anything, right now
• The wireless Web revolution that's about to explode
• Bluetooth: wireless computing, networking, conferencing, and beyond
• Phones or computers: Which platform will drive the wireless Web?
• Internet in the sky: high-bandwidth Web services via satellite
• Fixed wireless applications-from SOHO to enterprise
• Mobile operators vs. content providers: Who "owns" the customer?
• Mobile OS platforms: Palm, Windows CE, Symbian EPOC
• A peek into the far future: 4G, holophones, and more

Whether you're an investor, decision maker, or consumer, Network magazine editor Andy Dornan delivers all the information you need to identify your best wireless opportunities—and take advantage of them!

ANDY DORNAN is Senior Editor specializing in wireless technology at Network magazine in San Francisco, CA, and has covered advanced wireless technologies for Red Herring.