The numbers of subscribers with wireless access to the internet through laptops, personal digital assistants (PDAs), cellular phones, pagers and other wireless devices is rapidly increasing. So this market is growing at a fast rate. In fact, companies solely dedicated to this type of service are starting to appear. Analysts predict that e-commerce will be a key application for wireless inter access. Buying books, trading stock, reserving hotel rooms and renting cars from anywhere will be easy and consumers will demand this type of services.

Technology network used in US today, such as CDMA, TDMA and GSM may be changing. Analysts expect that carriers of these networks will migrate to the use of high-speed data networks such as 2.5G and 3G to give end-users enhanced internet capabilities through wireless devices. Since the transition from the traditional technologies to these faster, third generation technologies is so expensive, carriers in the US have been reluctant to upgrade their networks before they see a real demand for high speed wireless data. However, the strategies group predicts that there will be 9.5 million consumer and business 3G mobile high-speed data subscribes by 2005. Wireless carrier that migrates to 2.5G technology will be able to offer subscribers access to the internet at speeds that are comparable to a wire line ISDN connection or faster. This technology also gives users the capability to access streaming media and websites with sound, pictures and video.

2.5G will allow users to download, upload and send large file from wireless devices without a long wait. 3G technology offers wireless internet access at rates of 384 Kbps or higher. Migration to full 3G offers mobile professionals the ability to access data as if they were connected to their office LAN. 3G will enable the use of wireless multimedia and video applications as well as video conferencing. Remote video monitoring will also be possible. For example, a mobile 3G device will be able to display the various views from several cameras placed around a facility or home. The International Telecommunications Union has approved 3G as a wireless technology standard. This technology is ultimately expected to allow customers to have wireless coverage with access to high data transmission speeds anywhere in the world.

By: Shabab Ahmad

One of the brilliant ideas for mobile computing is a wireless internet for laptops. Laptop is designed for mobile use, it is created with the same concept as a personal computer, running in an operating system, and using software applications. It is so portable that you can carry it in any location without a need of a plug to power, and what a combination it is when connected to a wireless internet.

To have a wireless internet connection to your laptop, make sure that your laptop is wireless capable. Laptop specifications show that it has hardware capability for wireless internet connection. Other way to find out if a laptop is wireless capable is to right click on My computer then select Properties and go to the Device Manager, expand the Network Adapters, and if your laptop is wireless capable then you will see Wireless Network Adapters.

There are different ways to have a wireless internet connection for laptops. A desktop computer connected to the internet can use a wireless USB adapter or a USB antenna to provide internet connection to a wireless capable laptop. USB modem can also be used for laptops to have a wireless connection, the modem uses micro waves from cell sites thus the internet subscription will be from a cellular telecommunications company.

A wireless internet connection set up includes an internet service provider, a modem, and a wireless router or a combined wireless modem-router. A laptop that is wireless capable can also connect to the internet within the wifi zone also known as wireless hot spot. Wifi is also known as wireless fidelity, it is has the same operation as a local area network but without a use of cables. A zone to be called wifi capable must have a wireless router or a wireless modem. A wireless router can cater multiple wireless capable laptops while a wireless modem can cater only one. Most wifi zones used wireless router for that multiple internet sharing capability. Common wifi zones include malls, restaurant, and schools. And these places use signal boosters to extend the wifi range in order to get a full wifi capability at the establishment.

A laptop has a lot of advantages compared to a desktop computer and same as the advantages of a wireless internet connection to a wired connection. The advantage is portability, size, and it consumes less electricity compared to a desktop computer. On the other hand, a wireless router can provide internet connection to 46 meter radius for indoors and 92 meter range for outdoors. There is no need to purchase meters of cable to wire that internet connection at a particular area. Imagine the chemistry of a portable computer together with a wireless connection. You can bring your laptop anywhere within wifi range and sit comfortably at your rose garden while having a happy conversation with your love ones.

By: Tommy Kas

The business travelers often have to suffer from lack of any Internet facility in their laptop or being unable to connect when they are on the move, or traveling to other destinations. Generally, as a solution, they have to rely on Wi-Fi systems available in the hotel rooms and have to be completely dependent on the speed and quality of the service offered by their internet providers.

For those business executives who travel on regular basis, wireless aircard comes as a perfect solution; it provides you with mobile internet connectivity anywhere and everywhere it is possible. The aircards gives you global access to Internet via wireless connectivity allowing you to connect while you are traveling on road or staying in hotel room. Sierra Wireless Aircard is the leading and most reputed maker of wireless internet cards and provides most innovated wireless connectivity solutions which are both compatible and reliable.

Sierra has recently come up with two wireless aircards, namely Aircard 595 and Aircard 597. Both of these aircards are of the highest quality, providing uninterrupted wireless connectivity at broadband speed. The Sierra wireless aircards have great advantages of having low energy consumption which is one of main concern when you connect through laptops at remote locations.

No matter which part of the world you are traveling to, by using Sierra wireless data card, you will have access to the Internet at all places having wireless connectivity. The fast data rates, by using this aircard, can go up to 1.8 Mbps downlink and 384 Kbps uplink, which lets you access to the same data rate which you get through DSL and cable modems. The sierra wireless aircards come with easy installation process using easy-to-install software which makes task of installing, configuring and managing your wireless internet aircard easier.

To the ultimate benefit of the consumers, the Sierra wireless aircards can be rented at considerably low cost. The aircard rental services offer cost-effective alternative of renting the wireless air cards instead of spending higher amount of money on buying. This makes it easier for business travelers who require wireless connectivity for few days to weeks but do not want spend hundreds of dollars on purchasing such cards. To their greater advantage, the companies providing wireless aircard rental services also offer complete support and assistance in installing, configuring in the rental period.

By: A Alioua

All those people who are making use of wireless connection are always looking for information on how they can secure their wireless connection. This is because many cases have been reported from all over the world about how the hackers have been misusing the connections of those who have wireless internet. These days, an increasing number of internet users are resorting to the WiFi connections because it’s more convenient.

I am sure you are aware that WiFi laptop connections are not secured and other people can always get connected to your network. This way they can make wrong use of the wireless internet connection and you will not even be aware about it. The hackers can steal your personal information, banking details and passwords when your wireless internet connection is not secured. I am sure this is something that you do not want. So how do you prevent the hackers from using your wireless internet connection?

Make sure that you switch off your router when you are not using the wireless internet. You can secure your network by disabling the DHCP service of the router. You also have to make sure that you make use of a very strong password that no one will be able to guess when you are setting up the encryption facility. Try making use of special characters or numbers when you are creating the password. To make the encryption, you can use WAP or WEP settings. It is also necessary that you activate the firewall in the router to protect the WiFi wireless internet network. It is common for most of the routers to be available with a default ID and password but you have to make sure that you change them as soon as you install the router. Apart from these, I would advise you to check the connection to see which computers are connected to your network.

By: Ofir Chai

Getting internet connectivity that is both reliable and mobile is now very easy with a USB wireless card. These wireless cards allow an individual to connect to the internet from any computer that has a USB port. The card is simply connected to the port in order to obtain wireless internet service. These cards can be purchased from many electronic retailers and telecommunication carriers and they are affordable when you consider the tremendous service they offer by making internet available anywhere at anytime. There are so many advantages to using a wireless card that can be connected to your computer via a USB port.

One of the advantages of using wireless cards that operate from a USB port is the flexibility. Unlike hardwired internet connections that require the use of cords and cables in order to connect to the internet, wireless cards are more versatile and offer mobility. Even internet connections that are setup for wireless capabilities are bound by a modem and a router. If using a laptop with a router you are limited to how far you can move from the router and the modem in order to receive a quality internet connection. Wireless cards that operate through a USB port are functional anywhere you want to connect to the internet. They can be used both inside and outside the home and they work off of high speed broadband widths so the internet connection is fast. Also, these types of wireless USB cards can be used with any electronic device that has a USB port in order to access the internet. This is very convenient and allows the individual to have internet access at any computer with a USB port.

An additional advantage of using this type of wireless card is the affordability. Whether you own a laptop, desktop or both some people prefer having the convenience of internet service provided through a wireless card. Since these cards can be inserted in any computer an individual gets more use from this card than with traditional wired internet service. Most of the cellular companies offer internet or data service plans for reasonable prices. For one low monthly payment an individual can access the internet anywhere he/she likes through the use of the wireless card operating through a USB port on any computer. Many times the wireless cards are offered as a free gift to consumers that sign up for one of the internet or data service plans. Since many people already have cellular phone service adding the data service plan to their cellular bills is affordable when you consider that the internet can be used anywhere as opposed to cable or DSL internet service. For many this internet option is just more affordable and convenient.

There are so many different types of USB wireless cards available that there should not be a problem finding a card that suits your needs. Some of these cards are even made with an antenna which can help with obtaining a good internet connection no matter where you. These cards are very useful and are recommended for those that desire internet service on demand.

By: Jennifer Waller

There are times when the learning curve in this technologically challenging information age can seem like a mountain range. Once you conquer one peak or obstacle and you think you are the smartest fellow on the planet, another task presents itself and you are off to the medicine cabinet for another blood pressure tablet. I thought it would be a good idea to document the recent experience I had when trying to access the internet on a new laptop in a friend’s home using a modem and a wireless router. The reason is that I would have liked it if someone had previously documented the same experience for me. It sure would have saved me some time.

The Netgear Rangemax Wireless N Gigabit Router WNR3500 is a fine bit of gear. I have previously used this hardware to connect an entire household to the internet. Wireless routers are essential for any home network that combine wireless and wired network connections. It was used previously with the operating system Windows XP with an iPstar Satellite Terminal iCON Series Modem. The setup was easy because all I had to do was install the software and follow the instructions. It was a piece of cake.

I was working with a newly acquired Acer laptop emachines E727. I was trying to use the router to access the same wireless internet connection using Windows 7 Home Edition as the operating system. I tried to install software using CD version 2.0 I received with the router but the error message I received stated that I had a compatibility problem with the version of Windows I was running. I spent quite a bit of valuable searching Google for a software upgrade to solve the compatibility problem. I had no luck and so as a last resort I contacted the ‘Netgear Support’ number.

It is a good idea to confirm that you actually have an internet connection so initially I connected an Ethernet cable from the modem to the RJ45 Ethernet port on the laptop. Once the broadband internet access was confirmed I connected the laptop to the modem through the router. The modem is connected to the router via an Ethernet cable from the modem to the yellow access point marked ‘Internet’ on the router. I have another cable running from ethernet output connection 1 on the router to the RJ45 Ethernet port on the laptop.

On the bottom right of the laptop there is the internet connection icon next to the speakers icon. When I moved the mouse over the icon it showed an old internet connection name. It was therefore necessary to log in to the router to change the settings. This was achieved by typing 192.168.1.1 in the browser window.

The default values for the Netgear WNR3500 are;

Username: admin

Password: password

Under ‘Setup’, go to ‘Wireless Settings’. Go to ‘Wireless Network’.

Go to the ‘Name (SSID)’ field and delete the previous entry value. Enter a new name in the field for ‘Name (SSID)’ using a name that you will recognize. This value could be something as simple as your surname. It can be a value of your choice and must be up to 32 alphanumeric characters. It is important to remember that this ‘Name(SSID)’ must be assigned to all wireless devices on your network and that this value is case sensitive.

Go to the ‘Region’ field and select your region from the drop-down list.

Go to the ‘Channel’ field which determines which operating frequency will be used. I entered channel 11.

Go to the ‘Mode’ field and select the desired wireless mode. The default is “Up to 145Mbps”, which is the neighbor friendly mode.

Under ‘Security Options’ I use ‘WPA-PSK [TKIP]‘. This is an acronym for Wi-Fi Protected Access with Pre-Shared Key. Use WPA-PSK standard encryption with TKIP encryption type. This is purely a bit of useless information for the useless information department.

At the bottom of the page under ‘Security Options (WPA-PSK + WPA2-PSK) Passphrase’, enter a word or group of printable characters in the passphrase box. The Passphrase must be 8 to 63 characters in length. Use something that you can easily remember. If you cannot think of anything, use your mobile phone number.

Click ‘Apply’ to have your changes take effect and the router will update. When the router has updated, return to the internet icon at the bottom right of the page and left click. You should have the new ‘Name (SSID)’ as the internet connection. If everything has gone to plan, you can remove the cable and browse the internet, wireless style. It is the only way to go!

By: Stephen Reeves

Do you have a broadband modem such as DSL or cable and trying to connect all your computers, PCs and laptops included to the internet? If this is the case, you need a Linksys broadband wireless router to do the job, and I am sure that is why you got to this page.

Why do you need a router?

If you want to set up a LAN (Local Area Network) or a WLAN (Wireless Local Area Network) in other words the computers in your house, and be able to connect them all to the internet without paying an extra ISP (internet subscription provider) for each of your machines you need this device.

In most cases your internet provider will allow you have multiple computers connected to the internet under a single account. You will only pay a nominal fee for each additional computer sharing the connection.

A router is designed to act as a gateway that will enable you to connect your entire household to the internet. While linking all your computers in the house to the internet it will identify what computer is asking for what as well.

While wired devices might be more reliable in some cases, wireless routers are especially handy to handle wireless network such as laptops anywhere in the house.

All that home users need is what is called broadband devices which enable you to connect two or more computers while sharing the same internet connection.

If you would draw a picture it would go like this: internet connected to cable or DSL modem. Modem connected to router, and router connected to computers.

A wireless broadband device looks pretty much the same as a wired one with the exception of the antenna and of course the lack of wires running from your PC to your device. Creating a wireless network adds a bit more security concerns as opposed to wired networks, but wireless broadband routers do have extra levels of embedded security.

Very affordable!

Today you can purchase a Linksys broadband wireless 4 ports router that will enable you to share your broadband Internet connection with multiple computers in your home or small office for a very reasonable price.

By: Ryan Breeman

If you’re not a part of America’s youngest generation, you may be feeling lost with all of the technological advancements that have taken place over the past twenty years. When you grew up, home computers probably didn’t exist and the thought of having such equipment in your own home was like a fantasy idea. Many older Americans still aren’t used to the fact that home computers are now so affordable and practical, but in reality, home computers have become incredibly commonplace. Even beyond home computers, America’s older citizens are amazed and confused by things such as laptops, smartphones and wireless internet technology. Yet, once the country’s older generations can understand these technologies, they’ll see just how much they can benefit from these advancements as well.

One of the major benefits that many Americans enjoy about wireless internet is that it makes it much easier for them to stay in contact with the people they are about. If you’re at home, you can use your computer to make free phone calls over the internet to people from all over. Even better, if you’ve got a webcam, those phone calls can become video calls, which can enable you to feel like you’re sitting in the same room as the person you’re talking to, who may actually be on the other side of the world. No matter where you are, if you’ve got wireless internet, you can use your smartphone or laptop to stay in touch with your loved ones with resources like Facebook, Twitter, MySpace, Flickr, Picasa and many other social networking websites. The possibilities are really limitless, and it’s incredible to realize just what a difference these new technologies can make. If you’ve got loved ones who are spread out all over the place, computers, smartphones and wifi service can really help you stay in contact with them.

Another great way that older Americans can benefit from wireless internet, is that they can use it to order things to have them delivered to their own residence. Instead of having to worry about getting out to drive to a store, you can simply place an order online for nearly anything you would ever need to buy, and then a delivery service will bring it to you. Even if you like to get out of your house to do some shopping, online delivery services can really come in handy when the weather is nasty outside. You’ll never have to drive in snow or rain again!

Additionally, many older Americans find that they enjoy having wireless internet access because it allows them to learn about all kinds of freebies they can take advantage of. There is a wealth of information on the internet, and all kinds of free events, free product trials, and free coupons get posted online. If you’ve got wifi access then you can easily find out about each of those things from no matter where you are, and you can really start to save some money! Wifi, smartphones and computers aren’t just new technologies that can benefit young people. Older Americans should start taking advantage of each of these technological advancements today because they can benefit in numerous ways!

By: Jason Tandle

Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access or WiMax, as this wireless internet for laptop is commonly referred to as, is not exactly a new technology. It’s just that people start to pay more attention to this technology in the recent times. An engineering officer of the Air Force Academy, Robert Morrow, is of the opinion that the future belongs to WiMax because cellular data and WiFi are not going to be ‘in’ anymore. On the other hand, there are many other people who do not have this kind of feeling about WiMax because it is very expensive and hence they think it is not practical to use.

Morrow has explained why he thinks WiMax has a bright future in an article in LiveScience. While users will have to pay money for WiMax, unlike WiFi that comes for free, this new technology has the ability to offer uninterrupted service. What’s more, WiMax can reach longer than WiFi and it also has stronger signal. Of course, the strength of the signal will depend on how far the case station antennas are situated. It is believed that users of wireless internet for laptop can stay connected all through the country and they will not get disconnected, not even once.

While WiMax is only found in some cities in the United States and it is not as popular as WiFi, Morrow is of the opinion that in the next two to five years, this technology will be available in all the major cities in the country. He also believes that in half a decade, WiMax will be sold with all laptops as the only wireless internet for laptop.

WAPA or the Wireless Access Providers’ Association of South Africa has reasons to believe that most of the wireless ISPs prefers WiFi because it has been tried and tested for efficiency. On the other hand, it is still too early to say whether WiMax is as reliable as WiFi. Countries in the Far East prefer WiMax to WiFi. On the other hand, Pakistan is supporting WiMax and it has even set up the largest WiMax network in the world and network has been set up in this country’s seventeen cities. Experts are of the opinion that both WiFi and WiMax can exist alongside one another.

By: Ofir Chai