Another important trend for the future of wireless products is hot spots. A
hot spot is a location where a WLAN is publicly accessible. An airport lounge
or a coffee shop, as shown in Figure
, are two
examples of hot spots. This trend will facilitate the integration of WLANs and
the mobile WAN.
T-Mobile and AT&T are two wireless carriers that
have begun offering Wi-Fi services as higher-speed complements to their mobile
services in airports, hotels, and coffee shops. These services will become more
widespread as mobile carriers buy or collaborate with Wi-Fi-focused companies.
In addition to offering higher-speeds, future products may include a
unit that acts like a cordless phone when the user is close to the office,
switches to a WLAN elsewhere on the corporate campus, and passes seamlessly to
a broadband cellular network when the user moves outdoors. Such dual-band and
tri-band products are starting to emerge as NICs and chips. These will enable
users to connect to the best wireless network connection available. Special
software will control handoffs among Wi-Fi networks and mobile WAN network
services. Roaming users will not have to change configurations, logons, IDs, or
passwords to retain connections and application sessions.
Cell Phone
or Wallet?
Another possibility is an application that turns a handset
into a type of wallet. At least one company is working on a lens that will
allow the infrared beam found in some handheld devices to transmit across
longer distances without accurate aiming. This will enable users to point their
cell phone and pay for purchases made at various locations, such as a fast-food
drive-through window, a supermarket, or a vending machine.