Future of Wireless and Mobility

Future of Wireless and Mobility

The growing importance of wireless technologies globally can be attributed to the critical mass these collections have attained today, and their potential to make even broader contributions in the future. The intent of this analysis is to evaluate the primary factors that are driving wireless technology growth, and with it the adoption of mobility-based standards and applications. The role of social networks and collaborative platforms also serve as a catalyst for the growth of wireless technologies and mobility today as well.

A Technology in the Midst of Transition

Wireless technologies have progressed beyond code-division multiplexing to encompass four separate multiplexing standards which have set the foundation for creating secured enterprise-wide networks (Dekleva, Shim, Varshney, Knoerzer, 2007). In conjunction with these developments of multiplexing standards has been the development of location-based and context-aware wireless communications (Tyan, Mahmoud, 2005). Wireless technologies that take into account locations and context are redefining mobile-based advertising programs as a result (Peters, Amato, Hollenbeck, 2007). Given the increased focus on context-based wireless networks and their implications for location- and interest-based customization of advertising, there has been a corresponding increase in voice and data support integration performance (Fantacci, Vannuccini, Vestri, 2008).

The future of wireless technologies and the resulting use for mobility-based applications is being defined through the continual refinements of multiplexing standards, which serve as the foundation of enhanced context-based wireless infrastructures. These infrastructures include code-division multiplexing (CDM), frequency-division multiplexing (FDM), space-division multiplexing (SDM) and time-division multiplexing (TDM). Of these four approaches to multiplexing, FDM is having the greatest impact on the future of wireless by making it possible to create Wide Area Networks (WANs) that have the ability to be configured for security over Ad Hoc architectures (Anastasi, Ancillotti, Conti, Passarella, 2009). This is making it possible for devices specifically designed to take advantage of enhanced mobility to operate in more areas reliably. Included in these devices are Personal Digital Assistants (PDAs), mobile-aware cell phones, tablet-based PCs and traditional laptops.

The disruptive technologies behind location-based or context-aware wireless include the development of Location-based routing protocols (Shih, Yen, 2008) that are specifically designed to provide high levels of transaction security (Palmieri, Fiore, 2009). Disruption to advertising models and to cross-sell and up-sell strategies of retailers as they target consumers, who have shown in interest in their products, has already begun (Peters, Amato, Hollenbeck, 2007). Disruptions will continue to occur in the areas of advertising, lead generation for both B2B and B2C companies, and support for multichannel selling, especially in retailing. The impact on industrial companies will be location-aware technologies are going to revolutionize how logistics and inventory management is managed for greater efficiency (Ramanathan, Alexander, Kerr, 2008). Compounding all of these factors however is the changing role of service providers being driven by customer demand for greater levels of collaboration and the ability to stay connected to social networks in real-time (Bernoff, Li, 2008).

Service Providers' Future in Transition Due to Social Networks

The rapid growth of Web 2.0 technologies (O'Reilly, 2006) and their corresponding impact on social networks (Bernoff, Li, 2008) is forcing consolidation of the service provider industry globally. No longer can wireless providers merely rely on providing access to a signal or a series of phones, PDAs or other devices. The challenge today is one of providing integration to social networks including Facebook, Friendfeed, MySpace, Twitter and many others. Yet the aspect of collaborative applications is more than just social networks, it also encompasses the development of entire networks within companies for specific long-range projects, including new product development (O'Reilly, 2006). Wireless providers then are being forced to create more of a portal-based approach to their wireless applications and mobility solutions, as Nokia has continually attempted unsuccessfully to do over the last decade, and as others including Ericcson also are trying. Wireless providers are overdue for an industry shakeout where consolidation forces the structure of entirely new platforms of collaboration over time. There is also the need to underwrite these platforms through the sales of products and services. The Apple iTunes store is held up as the model of what wireless and mobility providers need to strive for in terms of their efforts to create more meaningful online experiences for their customers, yet the challenge is one of emulating a very successful business model that does not vary that much from what is on the iTunes store to begin with. With a lack of originality in terms of their services strategies, there will be a shakeout or industry consolidation of wireless and mobility vendors over the next three to five years. This will severely test the regulatory requirements of mergers and acquisitions in the telecommunications industry, one that has seen contentious legal battles over the right to acquire or merge companies. Regulatory requirements to show adherence to the Sherman Antitrust Act for mergers and acquisitions completed in the U.S. will increase as a result of the industry consolidation already underway.