Wireless technology is changing and improving the way we work. The ability to put more information in the hands of workers allows them to make critical informed decisions coordinated with fellow employees and even business partners outside the company.

What type of wireless technology best applies to your operation?

Each of the following sections contains information about technologies and links to the Solutions and Industries where we use these technologies to improve operations. To learn more, please click on one of these links or contact us (949)-600-6970.

One of the most popular wireless technologies, Wireless Local Area Networks (WLAN) or WIFI offers high speeds and relatively easy implementation with low equipment costs. Splintered into a group of different standards, the 802.11b standard is the most common. Other standards include 802.11a, g, n, d, e, f, h, i, k, and x. WLANs are changing the landscape of workplace environments allowing workers and home users fast and reliable access to company data and the Internet.

The benefits of WLAN make it almost ubiquitous appearing in many offices, homes, and public places such as airports, restaurants, coffee shops, and others (commonly called 'hot-spots').

Knowing which standard to deploy stands as one important factor as some are compatible with others and some are not. Security is also an issue. It is harder to control access in a wireless environment than in a traditional wired network (LAN). Complete coverage can also provide some challenges so we recommend site surveys in mission critical applications.

Need more information about these technologies?

To find out more about these technologies and how they can apply to your operation, please browse through the Solutions we offer, the Industries we typically work with, or contact us (949)-600-6970.

To extend wireless networking outside the coverage of your local area (LAN), Wireless Wide Area Networks (WWAN) offer the promise of complete mobility. Needing only a complaint cellular site nearby, WWAN users can access data at moderately high rates. Standards can be confusing as the industry moves from circuit-switched technology (2G) to network packet technology (3G). Two emerging standards include:

• GPRS
• CDMA

Both offer similar features and competing service providers often provide service using one of them.

It is important to consider costs and coverage before implementing a system. Unlike using your own network, carriers will charge fees which add to your investment costs. Since WWAN operates in the 'outside world', environmental factors influence network performance. Equipment and software must accommodate occasional drops in connection.

Need more information about these technologies?

To find out more about these technologies and how they can apply to your operation, please browse through the Solutions we offer, the Industries we typically work with, or contact us (949)-600-6970.

Wireless technologies deployed in your immediate workspace, common examples of Personal Area Networks (PAN) include:

• Infrared (IrDA)
• Bluetooth

Infrared, using the IrDA standard, is easy to deploy and inexpensive. Often used in PDAs and Laptop computers, the devices must lie in direct line of site with each other. IrDA does not provide any significant security and data transfer rates remain relatively low. IrDA does well in stable and simple environments with minimal data transfer requirements. Exchanging electronic business cards between PDAs provides a good example.

Bluetooth offers some important advantages over Infrared. Better security, no line of site required, and faster data rates help its popularity. Drawbacks include cost (although still relatively inexpensive) and complexity with setup. Commonly used in more demanding and dynamic situations such as wirelessly connecting a headset with a cellular phone and connecting a PDA to a modem or printer.

Need more information about these technologies?

To find out more about these technologies and how they can apply to your operation, please browse through the Solutions we offer, the Industries we typically work with, or contact us (949)-600-6970.

Often overlooked in our 'real time' and 'on-demand' world, wireless systems can simply be created by deploying portable devices (computers, PDAs, etc.) that record and store information until a physical connection to a workstation or network is available. Many know this physical connection as "synchronization."

If real time access to data is not critical, organizations can easily and cheaply set-up and deploy these devices. An interesting and often overlooked drawback to these types of system is complexity for the user. Although easy to set-up, the process of managing the upload and download of one or several devices creates some challenges for the user. Lack of a direct connection to the database means the user can enter incorrect data into the portable device and not realize it is inconsistent with the database until the synchronization process takes place. In addition, damage to the device or loss of the device itself often means loss of the information.

Need more information about these technologies?

To find out more about these technologies and how they can apply to your operation, please browse through the Solutions we offer, the Industries we typically work with, or contact us (949)-600-6970.