07/25/2001  

Update: the Wonders of Wireless, Where is it?
By: Joseph Esplago

In the age of computers, wireless communications is a major commodity for the hospitality industry. Whether for business or for leisure, travelers need to access the internet. Providing the fastest and easiest connections will mean an edge on competition and easily draw in a large customer base. And with internet-ready cell phones and browser-enabled hand-held devices being developed, there will be a huge increase in demand to stay on top of the technology game.

Companies like Bluetooth are developing technology that will allow communications between different wireless technologies and communication from a broader range. Imagine being able to make hotel arrangements as you step onto the premises of a hotel. The dream of being able to upload files from your laptop to your cell-phone is flying around the internet. But before you start ripping out ethernet ports to make way for new wireless wonders, consider the current state of wireless technology.

The buzzword for wireless inter-device communications is “Bluetooth”. Bluetooth is an Ericsson development group specializing in this field of telecommunications. They have already developed a few devices with chips that can interact with select Bluetooth systems. But due to disheartening failures at demo shows, Bluetooth has been unable to show its reliability to the world. Another problem that Bluetooth faces is 802.11.

802.11, named after the engineering frequency standard for wireless transfers, has been the leader of wireless communications in the United States. Several companies have started incorporating 802.11 in its systems. But 802.11 seems to lack the unified incorporation of wireless devices that Bluetooth has. Unfortunately, the 802.11 and Bluetooth systems are incompatible with each other. And until one side begins to show more promise or a hybrid system is developed, many in the hospitality industry probably will not invest in these new systems.

Another major consideration is the development of 3G phones. “Third-generation”, cell phones with internet capacity, have also experienced setbacks in their progress. 3G phones are the potential backbone to the new Bluetooth and 802.11 systems because of their increased capacities over existing cell phones. Recently, NTT Mobile Communications (NTT DoCoMo), one of the leaders in 3G development, recalled several new 3G handsets. Several problems including short battery-life, overheating, software problems, failure to receive Java applets, and general transfer failures manifested in the prototype units. With NTT DoCoMo’s first attempt showing unsatisfactory marks, it appears that people will have to wait for 3G a little while longer.

Recent news shows that several problems haunt the development of free-flowing wireless communications. Until these gremlins are dealt with or a new option brings integrated communications closer to consumer reality, there is not a necessity for hoteliers to change from high-speed communications and existing internet conventions.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * 
Company Information

 mail this story to a friend