The Essential Guide to Wireless Communications Applications, From Cellular Systems to WAP and M-Commerce (Paperback)

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Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

Wireless applications may (or may not) be the next big thing in communications. The Essential Guide to Wireless Communications Applications surveys the universe of wireless telephony and data-communications technologies with an eye to mobile commerce and information services. For the most part, this guide isn't well suited to engineers or technicians, but rather to managers, salespeople, corporate decision-makers, and investors, who need the big picture without too many details. When they finish this book, readers will understand competing wireless telephony technologies, as well as the latest developments in short-range wireless networking (Bluetooth especially) and the promise of satellite-based global-roaming services. As the title implies, the book also emphasizes ways of putting telecommunications to work--distributing information and bringing in revenue.

You can read this book straight through if you like, but many readers probably will prefer to use it as a sort of encyclopedia. You can locate the section that interests you, and absorb its essentials (mostly in the text format) in a short time. As with a traditional encyclopedia, you can expect to back up your research with further reading on the Web and in more focused publications. --David Wall

Topics covered:

• Wireless voice and data communications technologies and the applications (such as mobile commerce) that run on them
• Established cellular and digital technologies (AMPS, D-AMPS, GSM, and CDMA)
• Third-generation standards (including IMT-2000, W-CDMA, and CDMA-2000)
• Applications technologies (including the Wireless Application Protocol--WAP--suite and Short Messaging Services--SMS)

Product Description

A complete guide to the state of the art in wireless and mobile Internet applications and their business impact, written especially for nontechnical professionals. Topics covered include M-Commerce, a peek into the far future of holophones and 4G, Bluetooth, and fixed wireless applications. Softcover.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 315 pages
• Publisher: Prentice Hall PTR; 1st edition (December 12, 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0130317160
• ISBN-13: 978-0130317162
• Product Dimensions: 9.3 x 7 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (11 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #1,413,863 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

13 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Good overview of the wireless world, January 29, 2001

By A Customer

As someone new to wireless technology, I found this book very helpful. It explains what all the buzzwords like 3G and m-commerce actually MEAN, and left me understanding a lot mroe about the industry than before. I particularly liked the chapter on how 3G works, because it had a lot of detailed info without being overwhelming. There's actually quite a lot of technical details throughout the book, yet it's still readable. You can read it almost from cover to cover as an introduction to the topic, then keep it as a reference later.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A little of everything, February 21, 2001

By A Customer

Explains what lies behind most of the hype about 3G and mobile Internet, plus a lot more like MMDS that I hadn't heard of before. Don't expect it to turn you into an expert on wireless overnight, but it will bring you up to speed on the technology.

6 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Insightful and balanced perspectives on wireless technology, May 23, 2001

By	"angyh" (Singapore) - See all my reviews

The writing of such a book inevitably involves balancing between the amount of detail provided and the level of accessibility for the average layman; in my opinion, the author manages this remarkably well. Almost everything that spans the gamut of wireless technology is covered, apart from technically involved topics, yet the conciseness of the text allows the reader to have a good grasp of the relevant issues within a short time. What makes this book stand out though is the refreshing insight into various aspects of the technology offered by the author; the preface says that "it is designed to look beyond the hype", and from what is written you can tell that the author knows what he is talking about.

I will definitely be looking out for a second edition and other works by Andy Dornan.