7

Wireless, Mobile
Computing, and
Mobile Commerce
 LEARNING OBJECTIVES
1. Identify advantages and disadvantages of each of the four
main types of wireless transmission media.
2. Explain how businesses can use technology employed by
short-range, medium-range, and long-range networks,
respectively.
3. Provide a specific example of how each of the five major
m-commerce applications can benefit a business.
4. Describe technologies that underlie pervasive computing,
providing examples of how businesses can utilize each
one.
5. Explain how the four major threats to wireless networks
can damage a business.
 CHAPTER OUTLINE
1. Wireless Technologies
2. Wireless Computer Networks and Internet
Access
3. Mobile Computing and Mobile Commerce
4. Pervasive Computing
5. Wireless Security
 [ Retailer Gains Many Benefits with
RFID Item ]
• The Problem
• The IT Solution
• The Results
• What We Learned from This Case
8.1 Wireless Technologies
• Wireless Devices
– Smartphones
• Wireless Transmission Media
– Microwave
– Satellite
– Radio
Wireless Devices
• Three Major Advantages for Users
– Small enough to easily carry or wear.
– Sufficient computing power to perform productive
tasks.
– Communicate wirelessly with the Internet & other
devices.
• One Major Disadvantage for Business
– Workers can capture and transmit sensitive
proprietary information
Modern Smartphone Capabilities

• Cellular telephony • E-mail

• Bluetooth • Short Message Service (SMS,
• Wi-Fi sending and receiving short
• Digital camera for images & text messages up to 160
video characters in length)
• Global Positioning System • Instant Messaging
(GPS) • Text messaging
• Organizer • MP3 music player
• Scheduler • Video player
• Address book • Internet access with full-
• Calculator function browser
• QWERTY keyboard
[about business]
Cell Phones
Revolutionize
Healthcare in
Uganda
8.2 Wireless Transmission
Media (WTM)
• Wireless Media (aka, broadcast media)
– transmit signals without wires

• Major Types of Wireless Media Channels:

– Microwave
– Satellite
– Radio
– Infrared
WTM: Microwave
Advantages Disadvantages
• High bandwidth • Requires an
• Relatively unobstructed line of
Inexpensive sight
• Susceptible to
environmental
interference
WTM: Satellite
Advantages Disadvantages
• High bandwidth • Expensive
• Large coverage area • Requires unobstructed
line of sight
• Signals experience
propagation delay
• Requires the use of
encryption for security
Three Basic Types of
Telecommunications Satellites

• Geostationary Earth Orbit (GEO)

• Middle Earth Orbit (MEO)
• Low Earth Orbit (LEO)
Geostationary Earth Orbit (GEO)

Orbit: 22,300 miles

Number of Satellites: 8
Use: TV Signal

Characteristics: • Satellites stationary relative to point

A on Earth
A • Few satellites needed for global
A coverage
A • Transmission delay (approximately .25
second)
A • Most expensive to build and launch
A • Longest orbital life (many years)
a
Internet over Satellite (IoS)
Disadvantages Advantages
• Provides Internet • Propagation delay
services to remote • Disrupted by
areas of Earth environmental
conditions
Middle Earth Orbit (MEO)
Orbit: 6,434 miles
Number of Satellites: 10 - 12
Use: Global Positioning Systems (GPS)

Characteristics: • Satellites move relative to point on

A Earth
A • Moderate number needed for global
A coverage
A • Requires medium-powered
transmitters
A • Negligible transmission delay
A • Less expensive to build and launch
a • Moderate orbital life (6–12 years)
Global Positioning Systems (GPS)

• A wireless system that utilizes satellites to

enable users to determine their position
anywhere on Earth.
• Supported by 24 MEO Satellites
• Uses of GPS
– Navigating, Mapping, Surveying, 911 location
• Three additional GPS Systems
– GLONASS, Russia 2005
– Galileo, European Union 2015
– Beidou, China 2020
Low Earth Orbit (LEO)
Orbit: 400 - 700 miles
Number of Satellites: Many
Use: Telephone, Internet

Characteristics: • Satellites move rapidly relative to

A point on Earth
A • Large number needed for global
A coverage
A • Requires only low-power transmitters
A • Negligible transmission delay
A • Least expensive to build and launch
a • Shortest orbital life (as low as 5 years)
WTM: Radio
Advantages Disadvantages
• High bandwidth • Creates electrical
• Signals pass through interference
walls problems
• Inexpensive and easy • Susceptible to
to install ‘snooping’ unless
encrypted
WTM: Infrared
Advantages Disadvantages
• Low to medium • Requires an
bandwidth unobstructed line of
• Used only for short sight
distances
8.2 Wireless Computer Networks
& Internet Access
• Short-Range Wireless Networks
• Medium-Range Wireless Networks
• Wide-Area Wireless Networks
Short-Range Wireless Networks

• Bluetooth
• Ultra-Wideband
• Near-Field Communications
[about business]
Near-Field
Communications
Helps Travelers in
Japan
Medium-Range Wireless Networks

• Wireless Fidelity (Wi-Fi)

– Wireless Local Area Networks (WLAN)
– Wi-Fi Direct
– MiFi
– Super Wi-Fi
• Wireless Mesh Networks
Wide-Area Wireless Networks

• Cellular Radio (Cellular telephones)

– 1G
– 2G
– 3G
• CDMA
– EV-DO
• GSM
– 4G
• Wireless Broadband (or WiMax)
8.3 Mobile Computing and
Mobile Commerce
• Mobile Computing
– Refers to a real-time connection between a
mobile device and other computing
environments, such as the Internet or an
Intranet.
• Mobile Commerce
– Electronic commerce (EC) transactions
conducted in a wireless environment,
especially via the Internet.
Mobile Computing
• Two Major Characteristics
– Mobility
– Broad Reach

• Mobility & Broad Reach Create 5 value-added attributes

1. Ubiquity
2. Convenience
3. Instant connectivity
4. Personalization
5. Localization of Products and Services
Mobile Commerce
• Also known as “M-commerce”

• Drivers of M-commerce
– Widespread availability of mobile devices
– Declining prices
– Bandwidth improvement
Mobile Commerce (continued)

• Mobile Commerce Applications Include:

– Location-Based Applications and Services
– Financial Services
– Intrabusiness Applications
– Accessing Information
– Telemetry Applications
8.4 Pervasive Computing
• Invisible “everywhere computing” that
is embedded in the objects around us.

• Radio-Frequency Identification (RFID)

– Versus bar codes
– Versus QR codes
• Wireless Sensor Networks
[about business]
Brazil Uses Smart
Meters
8.5 Wireless Security
• Four Major Threats
– Rogue access points
– War driving
– Eavesdropping
– Radio-frequency jamming