Technology assessment for single stage and multi-stage mobile applications

GSM, GPRS, UMTS, WLAN, WiMax and LEOs are all examples of mobile technologies that have evolved over the last decade. We have developed a simple and repeatable methodology to match mobile applications to the most appropriate technology. In this paper we present how the methodology was used and fine tuned for single stage and multi-stage mobile applications. The multi-stage application involved mobile data transmission from exchange to railway switching centre, railway switching centre to train, and train carriage to a user.