Energy and wireless Internet: what's the connection?(Management Information Systems)

The rapid growth of the wireless Internet became evident to me when my family recently visited four universities, all of which touted their wireless Internet access. The technology, called Wireless Fidelity (Wi-Fi), makes it possible to continually surf the Web while walking any street in lower Manhattan, according to a recent New York Times article. Computers equipped with Intel's Centrino mobile technology or an 802.1lb card seem to hop from one Wi-Fi network to another.

According to Gartner Dataquest, there are 132,486 Wi-Fi hot spots worldwide and many are free, ending the need for users to make chalk markings identifying free Wi-Fi networks, a practice once used by depression-era homeless to note homes where kindly people would share food.

Information Week recently reported that some cities now create free wireless "hot spots" to attract visitors, while businesses are pursuing this wireless technology in numerous ways. The popularity of cell phones has led to more than 140,000 pay phones being taken out of service in the last two years. Companies like Verizon are converting these locations into Wi-Fi hot spots for their DSL customers in New York.

Wi-Fi providers are still struggling to develop a business model around this free access that makes economic sense. The Wall Street Journal reported that McDonald's would profit from offering access to the service for a defined duration to customers who purchase a meal deal. Other companies continue to offer free access in hopes that customers who surf in their establishments will also make a purchase.

Wireless Technology

There are a number of approaches to wireless technology. Many proponents believe that cellular technology will prevail, but users will simply have to wait and see.

Another approach to Wi-Fi technology can be described as having three levels of architecture, which affect speed and performance. The highest level, the communication backbone, is often a T1 line. In areas without high-speed Internet access, 45 megabit per second (Mbps) wireless service may act as the backbone. The individual user can't access at 45 Mbps, thus a second level of wireless Internet architecture, consisting of wireless Fidelity (Wi-Fi) radio technology allows broadband Internet access to users. Access may be via a direct connection to the infrastructure in an existing building, including firewall, thus allowing users to use the same old wires as always. Access can also be via hot spots either indoors or outdoors. Wi-Fi hot spots are limited by distance, with a radius between 300 and 1000 feet, though next-generation (G) wireless technology may improve Wi-Fi range. At the third architecture level is the interface device. IEEE 802.11 is the standard that defines device requirements, and these may be cards that plug into a computer slot or be integral to the computer. To learn more about this wireless technology, visit Intel's site: www.intel.com/products/mobiletec hnology/hotspots. To find Wi-Fi hot spots in your neighborhood or where you plan to travel try www.WiFinder.com.