Wireless Technology Comparison: Essays Examples

Wireless communications play an important role in modern IT communication with applications ranging from file sharing, telephone communication, messaging, video chats and Internet communications. Several wireless standards have since then emerged, and these include Zig Bee, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and WiMAX among others.
Bluetooth technology is a short-range (10 -100 meters) and low-cost wireless connection technology that uses the ISM 2.4GHz public channel. The current standard is Bluetooth 4.0 with good data transfers speeds. Bluetooth wireless is mainly used in mobile devices and PCs for sharing small files across devices and audio playback via supported Bluetooth audio systems. Bluetooth uses simple equipment, is less prone to interference (Bluetooth.com, 2015).
Wi-Fi (IEEE 802.11) wireless fidelity standard is a wireless radio technology that provides fast, reliable and safe wireless connectivity for computers, mobile phones, and laptops which support the technology. Wi-Fi uses unlicensed radio frequencies 2.4 and 5GHz with data rates of up to 11 Mbps for the 802.11b and 54 Mbps for 802.11a. Some products also support the both bands. Wi-Fi has a range of 100 meters and is slightly vulnerable to wave interference. Wi-Fi is highly secure using WPA (Wired Protected Access) and WPA 2 (Poole, 2015).
ZigBee is a new low power, short range, and low data rate wireless technology based on the IEEE 802.15.4. It operates on the 2.4 GHz ISM band frequency, has a data rate of 10 to 250 Kb/s and has a transmission distance of 10 to 75 meters. ZigBee is suitable for real-time transmissions, is suitable for mesh and static master-star networks suits the low frequency and data rates. It has short activation time of 15 milliseconds, has low power consumption and has the potential to become the new close range remote control (Zigbee.org, 2015).
WiMax (Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access) is the global wireless technology for accessing the Internet via microwave transmissions. It is based on the IEEE 802.16 protocol and provides high-speed Internet access to a range of up to 50 km. WiMAX also has high data transfer rates, a quality of service guarantee (QoS), and the business advantages are varied. WiMAX supports mobile and fixed service options especially in areas with underdeveloped telecommunication infrastructure due to its long range and speeds (WiMAX Forum, 2015).
After comparing the above discussed wireless technologies and protocols, it is worth noting that all of them are based on protocols and standards developed by the Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers. All the technologies are suitable for wireless communication between mobile devices both for short range and long range communication. With the continued innovation in networking technologies and standards, faster and more efficient wireless standards are being developed. Some of these standards are not discussed in the paper, but they include mobile 4G and 5G wireless, Z-Wave, and Ultra-Wideband (UWB). With that in mind, the future is promising for wireless technologies and as we move on to ubiquitous computing where all devices are interconnected in one form or another.

References:

Bluetooth.com. (2015). Bluetooth Technology 101: A brief tutorial on Bluetooth wireless technology. Bluetooth Technology Website. Retrieved 23 April 2015, from http://www.bluetooth.com/Pages/Fast-Facts.aspx
Poole, I. (2015). IEEE 802.11 Standards | Wi-Fi Specifications | Radio-Electronics.com. Radio-electronics.com. Retrieved 23 April 2015, from http://www.radio-electronics.com/info/wireless/wi-fi/ieee-802-11-standards-tutorial.php
WiMAX Forum,. (2015). WiMAX Forum Technical Specifications. Wimaxforum.org. Retrieved 22 April 2015, from http://www.wimaxforum.org/resources/technical-specifications
Zigbee.org,. (2015). ZigBee IP and 920IP | Technical Summary. Zigbee.org. Retrieved 23 April 2015, from http://www.zigbee.org/zigbee-for-developers/network-specifications/zigbeeip/