Survey of current and emerging wireless data networks

Wireless E-mail services and wireless communications for Personal Digital Assistants (PDA)s are potentially huge new markets which are enticing the paging operators, as well as the public data network operators, such as Ardis, RAM and the new Cellular Digital Packet Data (CDPD) consortium of cellular operators. Public data networks employ highly efficient data transport facilities. Typical applications are mobile to host communications, for such things as order processing, inventory queries, reservations, credit checks, quick update of status (e.g. of returned rental vehicles) etc. Typical clients of these networks are service engineering, car rental, airline and credit-card businesses. These are all highly competitive, highly mobile businesses, who often have critical message delay requirements. There are two emerging approaches which are optimised for wireless data services inside buildings: digital cordless telephony and wireless LANs