Wiless communications

Wireless communications is, by any measure, the fastest growing segment of the communications industry. As such, it has captured the attention of the media and the imagination of the public. Cellular phones have experienced exponential growth over the last decade, and this growth continues unabated worldwide, with more than a billion worldwide cell phone users projected in the near future. Indeed, cellular phones have become a critical business tool and part of everyday life in most developed countries, and are rapidly supplanting antiquated wireline systems in many developing countries. In addition, wireless local area networks are currently poised to supplement or replace wired networks in many businesses and campuses. Many new applications, including wireless sensor networks, automated highways and factories, smart homes and appliances, and remote telemedicine, are emerging from research ideas to concrete systems. The explosive growth of wireless systems coupled with the proliferation of laptop and
palmtop computers indicate a bright future for wireless networks, both as stand-alone systems and as part of the larger networking infrastructure.