PCs vs. Phones
In our reader poll for this article, we asked which cellular data services offer the greatest value for mobile employees. PC Card cellular modems that provide wireless service for notebook users got only 40 percent of the vote, while smartphones with integrated data services received 60 percent.
|
There's reason for this smartphone dominance: These phones are quite capable, with computing and networking capabilities exceeding those of early PCs. With fast connectivity from just about anywhere, they are becoming indispensable tools. And in some cases, they can be used as wireless modems for laptops, getting the best of both worlds. However, no smartphone is perfect. Each excels in different areas, many are more consumer-focused than enterprise IT would like, and choosing among them can be an agonizing process. Integrating smartphones into your enterprise network also can be a complex undertaking, with significant security and management implications. Companies concerned with being able to secure and centrally manage mobile devices will still find laptops a better choice.
Verizon is demoing crowd analytics technology that uses 5G along with AI and mobile edge computing to give stadium operators insights into the flow of fans throughout a venue.
As we move closer to fully realizing the potential of Wi-Fi 7, it becomes evident that the RF, signaling, and throughput tests are not merely procedural checkpoints but the pillars of excellence in wireless communication.
With low earth orbit (LEO) satellites fast becoming the norm and 3GPP unifying telecom standards around the globe, the satellite IoT and machine-to-machine (M2M) sector ought to be looking at a bright horizon. But is this the case?
