Wireless Cheat Sheet

Commonly Used Terms

802.11 - a.k.a. Wi-Fi - 802.11 refers to the body of standards issued by the IEEE for WLANs (wireless local area networks). 802.11 technologies use an over-the-air interface to connect a device (for example, a Wi-Fi-enabled laptop) and an access point to another network. The 802.11 family of technologies includes 802.11a, 802.11b, 802.11g and 802.11n.

802.11a –5GHz Frequency. 25 to 75 feet indoors; range can be affected by building materials. Speed of up to 54Mbps. Devices include Laptop computers, PDAs, cell phones. Not compatible with 802.11b, 802.11g.

802.11b - 2.4GHz Frequency. Up to 150 feet indoors; range can be affected by building materials. Up to 11 Mbps. Other 2.4GHz devices, like cordless phones, may disrupt connection

802.11g -2.4GHz Frequency. Up to 150 feet indoors; range can be affected by building materials. Up to 54Mbps. Other 2.4GHz devices, like cordless phones, may disrupt connection.

1G - First Generation wireless technology. Based on analog or AMPS technology, 1G wireless networks were designed to carry voice traffic only.

2G - Second Generation wireless technology. Based on digital technology, 2G wireless networks offer increased voice quality and capacity over 1G systems. 2G systems traditionally supported voice and circuit-switched data service. 2G systems are being replaced today by 2.5G and 3G networks.

2.5G - Based on digital technology, adding 2.5G wireless technology to a 2G network provides packet-data service and improved data rates. 2.5G technology has been implemented as GPRS.

3G - Third Generation wireless technology. Based on digital technology, 3G wireless networks offer increased voice capacity and provide higher data rates than 2G and 2.5G networks. As defined by the International Telecommunications Union (ITU), 3G technology has been or will be implemented as CDMA2000, CDMA2000 1xEV-DO, WCDMA/UMTS and HSDPA/HSUPA.

3GPP - Third Generation Partnership Project, the standards body that oversees WCDMA.

3GPP2 - Third Generation Partnership Project 2, the standards body that oversees CDMA2000.

3DES - Triple Data Encryption Standard. A private key symmetric cryptographic algorithm, that protects computer data by encoding (converting) the data three times for greater security. 3DES was issued as a Federal Information Processing Standard and is an updated version of DES.

4GV- Fourth-Generation Vocoder. QUALCOMM’s voice codec suite that enables operators to prioritize voice quality and network capacity. Can be used to improve delay-sensitive applications such as VoIP (voice over Internet protocol).

Bluetooth - Wirelessly connect computer peripherals, such as printers, PDAs, cameras. 2.4GHz. Up to 33 feet (10 meters); range can be affected by building materials. 720Kbp. Other 2.4GHz devices, like cordless phones, may disrupt connection.

CDPD(Cellular Digital Packet Data) - System used to transmit data over analog cellular networks. 800MHz, 1,900MHz. 19.2Kbps data rate.

TDMA(Time Division Multiple Access - 800MHz, 1,900MHz. 64Kbps to 120Kbps data rates .Not compatible with GSM, CDMA networks

CDMA - Code Division Multiple Access. A digital wireless technology that works by converting analog information, such as speech, into digital information, which is then transmitted as a radio signal over a wireless network. CDMA uses spread-spectrum technology, decreasing potential interference while achieving privacy. CDMA technology is the basis for third-generation (3G) wireless technologies which offer increased voice capacity and provide higher data rates than 2G and 2.5G networks.800MHz, 900MHz, 1,700MHz,. Not compatible with GSM, TDMA networks.

CDMA2000 - a.k.a. IS-2000 - CDMA2000 (also known as CDMA2000 1X) is a family of 3G wireless standards that offers enhanced voice and data capacity and higher data rates than previous, second generation wireless standards. The CDMA2000 family of standards include CDMA2000 1X and CDMA2000 1xEV-DO. CDMA2000 is a direct evolution of the cdmaOne® standard.Any existing band. 144Kbps; future speeds are estimated as high as 4.8Mbps. Not compatible with GSM, TDMA networks.

cdmaOne- A brand name, trademarked and reserved for the exclusive use of the CDMA Development Group (CDG) member companies. cdmaOne was the coined term for QUALCOMM’s original CDMA systems based on the IS-95A and IS-95B standards, which made use of 1.25 MHz channels to deliver voice and data.

CDPD - Cellular Digital Packet Data. An add-on technology that enables first-generation (1G) analog systems to provide packet data. Today, 2.5G and 3G systems are replacing CDPD.

DES - Data Encryption Standard. Protects unclassified computer data using a 56-bit, private key, symmetric cryptographic algorithm; issued as a Federal Information Processing Standard

EDGE - Enhanced Data Rates for Global Evolution. A software/hardware enhancement for existing GSM networks designed to provide higher data rates to enhance the delivery of multimedia and other broadband applications for wireless devices.

FLO- Forward Link Only. An air interface developed by QUALCOMM to support mobile multicast multimedia services for wireless consumers; based on orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM). Enables the simultaneous delivery of TV- and radio-like programming to many wireless devices; also supports IP datacasting

FOMA - NTT DoCoMo’s WCDMA-compliant 3G network. Supports high-volume, high-speed wireless data transmission to enable multimedia services such as videophone and video mail.

GPRS - General Packet Radio Service. A 2.5G technology standard that is an upgrade to a GSM network. Adds packet data to the existing voice network.Theoretical maximum speed of 171Kbps - reality is 40-50Kbps.

GPS - Global Positioning System. A worldwide radio-navigation system developed by the U.S. Department of Defense to enable users to determine their exact location anywhere on the globe from land, air or sea. GPS works via radio signals sent from orbiting satellites to receivers on the ground. GPS receivers are used in a wide range of commercial applications from fleet management to rural navigation.

GSM - (Global System for Mobile Communications) - Digital cellular telephone system; most-used system worldwide. Not compatible with CDMA, TDMA networks.

MIMO - Multiple Input, Multiple Output. In wireless communications, an antenna technology that uses multiple antennas at the source (transmitter) and the destination (receiver). Antennas at each end are combined to reduce errors and improve data speed. Can be used in conjunction with OFDM

RFID - Radio Frequency Identification. A method of remotely retrieving data from and storing data associated with animals, people, products or equipment. Requires an RFID tag which contains an antenna to enable the tag to send and receive queries from an RFID transceiver

Tri-Mode - a.k.a. Triple Mode - Triple Mode. Functionality that allows a mobile phone to transmit in three modes for wider coverage area. For example, a mobile phone may be equipped to use analog, 800 MHz cellular and 1900 MHz PCS frequencies to make and receive calls.

UMTS - a.k.a. WCDMA - Universal Mobile Telecommunications System. A third-generation (3G), CDMA-based wireless communication standard that offers enhanced voice and data capacity and higher data rates than previous, second generation wireless technologies.

UTRAN - UMTS Terrestrial Radio Access Network. The Node Bs and radio network controllers that make up a UMTS network. Enables connectivity between the user equipment and the core network.

UWB - Ultra Wideband. A wireless technology for transmitting large amounts of digital data over a wide spectrum of frequency bands across relatively short distances

WCDMA - a.k.a. UMTS - Wideband CDMA. A third-generation (3G), CDMA-based wireless communication technology that offers enhanced voice and data capacity and higher data rates than previous, second-generation wireless technologies.

WEP - Wired Equivalency Privacy. An optional feature for Wi-Fi and 802.11b that offers privacy by using an encryption algorithm that scrambles data before any data is transmitted.

Services and Speeds

1G / 2G / 2.5G
Technology / AMPS / GSM
CDMA
iDen / GPRS
1xRTT
EDGE
Speeds / n/a / Less than 20Kbps / 30Kbps to 90Kbps
Features / Analog
(voice only) / Voice; SMS; conference calls; caller ID; push to talk / MMS; images; Web browsing; short audio/video clips; games, applications, and ring tone downloads
3G / 3.5G / 4G and beyond
Technology / UMTS
1xEV-DO / HSDPA (upgrade for UMTS)
1xEV-DV / WiMax*
Speeds / 144Kbps to 2Mbps / 384Kbps to 14.4Mbps / 100Mbps to 1Gbps
Features / Full-motion video; streaming music; 3D gaming; faster Web browsing / On-demand video; videoconferencing / High-quality streaming video;
high-quality videoconferencing; Voice-over-IP telephony

There are two main flavors of 3G: UMTS (Universal Mobile Telephone Service), which is being rolled out over existing GSM networks, and CDMA2000, which brings 3G speeds to CDMA networks. Both UMTS and CDMA2000--which has two high-speed offshoots, the data-only 1xEV-DO and the voice-plus-data 1xEV-DV--are already available in major cities with more expansion set for 2006. Speeds for both should be about DSL quality. We're also beginning to see discussions of 3.5G and 4G technologies such as HSDPA and WiMax, which should provide cable modem and gigabyte Ethernet speeds.

Sandeep Chawla

10/09/2006

North American Carriers

Rank / Operator / Technology / Subscribers
(in millions) / Ownership
1 / Cingular / HSDPA, UMTS, EDGE, GPRS, GSM, TDMA / 57.3 (June 2006) / AT&T (60%) and BellSouth (40%, to be acquired by AT&T)
2 / Verizon Wireless / CDMA2000 1xEV-DO, CDMA2000 1x, CDMA / 54.8 (June 2006) / Verizon Communications (55%), Vodafone Group plc (45%)
3 / Sprint Nextel
Includes Sprint Network, Nextel Network, and Boost Mobile Prepaid / CDMA2000 1xEV-DO, CDMA2000 1x, CDMA (Sprint PCS), WiDEN, iDEN (Nextel) / 51.7 (June 2006) / Sprint Nextel Corp.
4 / T-Mobile / UMA, EDGE, GPRS, GSM / 23.34 (June 2006) / Deutsche Telekom
5 / Alltel / CDMA2000 1xEV-DO, CDMA2000 1x, CDMA, AMPS / 11.1 (June 2006) / Alltel Corp.
6 / TracFone Includes NET10 / GSM, CDMA, TDMA / 7.0 (June 2006) / América Móvil (98.2%)
7 / U.S. Cellular / CDMA2000 1x, CDMA, TDMA / 5.7 (June 2006) / Telephone and Data Systems (82%)
8 / Virgin Mobile / CDMA2000 1xEV-DO, CDMA2000 1x, CDMA / 4.0 (June 2006) / Virgin Group (50%), Sprint Nextel Corporation (50%)
9 / MetroPCS / CDMA / 2.0 (February 2006) / MetroPCS, Inc.
10 / Cricket Includes Jump Mobile / CDMA / 1.84 (June 2006) / Leap Wireless
11 / Dobson Cellular/Cellular One / GSM, TDMA / 1.59 (September 2006) / Dobson Communications Corporation

Largest Carriers (Worldwide)

Rank / Company / Main Markets / Technology / Subscribers
(proportionate, in millions) / Subscribers
(total / unspecified, in millions)
1 / ChinaMobile (China) / China, Hong Kong / GSM, GPRS, EDGE / 273.8 (June 2006) / 273.8 (June 2006)
2 / Vodafone (United Kingdom) / UK, Germany, Italy, Spain, France, USA / GSM, GPRS, UMTS, HSDPA, CDMA, CDMA2000 1x, EV-DO / 186.8 (June 2006) / 553.0 (June 2006)
3 / China Unicom (China) / China / GSM, CDMA / 135.1 (June 2006) / 135.1 (June 2006)
4 / Telefónica (Spain) / Spain, UK, Germany, Latin America / GSM, GPRS, EDGE, UMTS, HSDPA, CDMA, CDMA2000 1x (TDMA) / 109.7 (June 2006) / 134.6 (June 2006)
5 / América Móvil (Mexico) / Latin America / GSM, GPRS, EDGE (CDMA, CDMA2000 1x, TDMA) / 104.6 (June 2006) / 107.8 (June 2006)
6 / T-Mobile (Germany) / Germany, USA, UK, Poland / GSM, GPRS, EDGE, UMTS, HSDPA / 94.1 (June 2006) / 101.2 (June 2006)
7 / Orange (France) / France, UK, Spain, Poland, Romania / GSM, GPRS, EDGE, UMTS, HSDPA / 71.5 (December 2005) / 88.7 (June 2006)
8 / MTS (Russia) / Russia, Ukraine, various CIS countries / GSM, GPRS / 65.4 (June 2006) / 66.7 (June 2006)
9 / Telecom Italia (Italy) / Italy, Brazil / GSM, GPRS, EDGE, UMTS, HSDPA (TDMA) / 61.1 (June 2006) / 61.1 (June 2006)
10 / Cingular (United States) / United States / GSM, GPRS, EDGE, UMTS, HSDPA (TDMA) / 57.3 (June 2006) / 57.3 (June 2006)
11 / Telenor (Norway) / Scandinavia, Eastern Europe, various Asiatic countries / GSM, GPRS, EDGE, UMTS / 56.5 (September 7, 2006) / 100.0 (September 7, 2006)
12 / Verizon Wireless (United States) / United States / CDMA, CDMA2000 1x, EV-DO / 54.8 (June 2006) / 54.8 (June 2006)
13 / NTT DoCoMo (Japan) / Japan / PDC, FOMA, PHS / 52.0 (August 2006) / 52.0 (August 2006)
14 / Sprint Nextel (United States) / United States / CDMA, CDMA2000 1x, EV-DO, iDEN / 51.7 (June 2006) / 51.7 (June 2006)
15 / VimpelCom (Russia) / Russia, various CIS countries / GSM, GPRS (D-AMPS) / 50.8 (June 2006) / 50.8 (June 2006)
16 / TeliaSonera (Sweden) / Scandinavia, Baltic, Russia, Turkey, Eurasia / GSM, UMTS / 38.5 (June 2006) / 79.3 (June 2006)
17 / SingTel (Singapore) / Singapore, Australia, India / GSM, UMTS / 35.6 (June 2006) / 92.4 (June 2006)

Sandeep Chawla

10/09/2006