1. Wireless, Mobile Computing, and Mobile Commerce
Chapter 10
© Oleksiy Makymenko/Alamy
Wireless, Mobile Computing, and Mobile Commerce

2. Chapter Outline
10.1 Wireless Technologies 10.2 Wireless Computer Networks and Internet Access 10.3 Mobile Computing and Mobile Commerce 10.4 Pervasive Computing 10.5 Wireless Security

3. Learning Objectives
Identify advantages and disadvantages of each of the four main types of wireless transmission media.
Explain how businesses can use technology employed by short-range, medium-range, and long-range networks, respectively.
Provide a specific example of how each of the five major m-commerce applications can benefit a business.
Describe technologies that underlie pervasive computing, providing examples of how businesses can utilize each one.
Explain how the four major threats to wireless networks can damage a business.

4. Introduction Opening Case: Big Wheel Mobile Truck & Square Wireless
Without wires
Mobile
Something that changes its location over time
Not all wireless networks are mobile.
© ecco/Shutterstock

5. 10.1 Wireless Technologies
How many students carry wireless devices?
History of the cell phone
What are advantages and disadvantages of wireless devices?
Advantages of wireless devices
Small enough to easily carry or wear
Have sufficient computing power to perform productive tasks
Can communicate wirelessly with the Internet and other devices
Disadvantages
Information system security
Privacy issues
William Andrew/Photographer’s Choice/Getty Images, Inc.

6. Table 10.1 Advantages and Disadvantages of Wireless Media

7. Wireless Transmission Media
Microwave transmission systems
Widely used for high-volume, long-distance, point-to-point communication
Require line-of-sight
Transmitter and receiver are in view of each other
Due to curvature of the earth, microwave towers cannot be spaced more than 30 miles apart
Tightly directed transmission from transmitter to receiver
Susceptible to environmental interference

8. Wireless Transmission Media
Satellite transmission
Compared to microwave systems, satellite has much larger footprint
The area of Earth’s surface reached by a satellite’s transmission
Receive and transmit data via line-of-sight
Utilize broadcast transmission
Sending signals to many receivers at one time
Subject to propagation delay and environmental influences
Three main types
Geostationary (GEO)
Medium-earth-orbit (MEO)
Low-earth-orbit (LEO)
Figure 10.1 Comparison of satellite footprints. (Source: Kelly Rainer.)

9. Table 10.2 Three Basic Types of Telecommunications Satellites
Satellite radio
GPS around the world
European Union GPS
China Beidou GPS
Russian GLONASS
GPS
Iridium
Global Star

10. Wireless Transmission Media
Radio transmission
Uses radio-wave frequencies to send data directly between transmitters and receivers
Advantages
Signals can travel through objects (no line-of-sight)
Require inexpensive devices
Support high-speed data transmission
Disadvantages
Possible electrical interference problems
Signal can be intercepted by anyone with similar equipment using the same frequency

11. Wireless Transmission Media
Infrared
Utilize infrared light
Red light not commonly visible to human eyes
Try using your digital camera to “see” it
Use for short-distance connections
Common uses are in remote control units for TVs, VCRs, DVDs, CD players
You can use the digital camera on your cell phone to see if your TV remote control is working. Digital cameras are sensitive to infrared light, so if you point your TV remote control at your cell phone, its digital camera will pick up the infrared beam if the remote is working
© Sergej Razvodovskij/Age Fotostock America, Inc.

12. 10.2 Wireless Computer Networks and Internet Access
Wireless networks can be categorized by their effective distance
Short range
Medium range
Wide area
© STOCKBROKERXTRA/Age Fotostock America, Inc.

13. Short-Range Wireless Networks
Range: 100 feet or less
Bluetooth
Link up to eight devices within a 30-foot area and transmit up to 2.1 mbps
Ultra-wideband (UWB)
High-bandwidth wireless technology with transmission speeds in excess of 100 mbps
Examples: Timedomain, Parking
Near-field communications (NFC)
Shortest range of any wireless network
Embedded in mobile devices such as cell phones and credit cards

14. Medium-Range Wireless Networks
Wireless fidelity (Wi-Fi)
For wireless LANs (WLANs)
IEEE Standard a, b, g, n, ac
Wi-Fi direct
Support peer-to-peer communications similar to Bluetooth
MiFi
A small, portable wireless device that provides users with a permanent Wi-Fi hotspot wherever they go
Super Wi-Fi
A wireless network proposal that creates long-distance wireless Internet connections
Wireless mesh networks
Use multiple Wi-Fi access points to create a wide area network
Wireless fidelity (Wi-Fi): used in wireless local area networks
Wireless access point: a transmitter with an antenna
Hotspot: a geographical perimeter with in which a wireless access point provides wireless access for users
Wireless network interface card: enables mobile devices to communicate wirelessly.

15. Wide-Area Wireless Networks
Connect users to each other and to the Internet over geographically dispersed distances
Cellular radio network
Two-way radio communications over a cellular network of base stations with seamless handoffs
Wireless broadband
Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access (WiMAX)
IEEE Standard
Provides wireless access range of up to 31 miles

16. Figure 10.5 Cell Phone Communications
The cell phone communicates with radio antennas, or towers, placed within adjacent geographic areas called cells
Image Source; © Engine Images-Fotolia.com.

17. 10.3 Mobile Computing and Mobile Commerce
Real-time, wireless connection between a mobile device and other computing environments, such as the Internet or an intranet
Characteristics
Mobility
Users can initiate a real-time contact with other systems from anywhere using a mobile device
Broad reach
Users with a mobile device can be reached instantly

18. Mobile Computing Five value-added attributes: Ubiquity
Connect anywhere regardless of user’s location
Convenience and Instant connectivity
Easy and fast access to the Web, intranets, and other mobile devices
Personalization
Information can be customized and sent to individual consumers
Localization of products and services
Knowing a user’s location helps companies advertise their products and services

19. Mobile Commerce Mobile commerce (m-commerce)
Electronic commerce transactions that are conducted in a wireless environment, especially via the Internet
Factors enabling m-commerce
Widespread availability of mobile devices
Declining prices of wireless devices
Bandwidth improvement
Mobile commerce refers to electronic commerce transactions that are conducted in a
wireless environment, especially via the Internet.

20. Mobile Commerce Applications
Location-based applications and services
Location-based advertising
Sending user-specific advertising messages concerning nearby shops, malls, and restaurants to consumers’ wireless devices
Example: NAVTEQ
Location-based services
Provide information that is specific to a given location
Example : CM-map

21. Mobile Commerce Applications
Financial services
Mobile banking
Access to financial and account information
Wireless payments
Make payments for products or services
Micropayments
Electronic payments for small purchase amounts (generally less than $10)
Wireless wallets
Make purchases with a single click from mobile devices
Bill payment services
Allow users to pay bills directly from their cell phones

22. Mobile Commerce Applications
Intrabusiness applications
Using wireless technology within an organization
Accessing information
Mobile portal
Aggregates and provides content and services for mobile users
Example: Yahoo! Mobile
Voice portal
A Web site with an audio interface that can also be accessed through a standard phone or cell phone
Example: iPing

23. Mobile Commerce Applications
Telemetry applications
Wireless transmission and receipt of data gathered from remote sensors
Examples: Find my iPhone, OnStar, Sync, Blue Link

24. 10.4 Pervasive Computing Also called ubiquitous computing
Invisible “everywhere computing” that is embedded in the objects around us
Smart homes, smart appliances, floors, lights, cars, washing machines, microwave ovens, cell phones, clothes, etc.
Media Bakery

25. Radio Frequency Identification
Uses tags with microchips containing data and antenna to transmit radio signals over a short distance to a RFID reader
RFID: The future market
Types of RFID tags:
Active tags
Passive tags

26. QR Code Quick response codes
A two-dimensional code, readable by dedicated QR readers and camera phones
Improvements over traditional bar code
Example: QRStuff
Pervasive Computing (Ubiquitous computing) is invisible “everywhere computing” that is
embedded in the objects around us – the floors, the lights, our cars, washing machine, microwave
oven, cell phones, clothes, and so on. (e.g., smart home, smart appliances)
Radio frequency identification (RFID) technology allows manufacturers to attach tags with
antennas and computer chips on goods and then track their movement through radio
signals.
Wireless sensor networks (WSNs) are networks of interconnected, battery-powered, wireless
sensors that are placed into the physical environment.

27. Wireless Sensor Networks (WSNs)
Networks of interconnected, battery-powered, wireless sensors (motes) that are placed into the physical environment
Each mote activates for a fraction of a second to transmit data to the nearest neighbor mote until they reach the central computer for processing
Example: Nest Lab

28. 10.5 Wireless Security Major threats to wireless networks
Rogue access point
An unauthorized access point to a wireless network
Evil twin attack: User connects to a malicious access point where an attacker could intercept confidential information
War driving
Locating WLANs while driving around a city or elsewhere
Eavesdropping
Efforts by unauthorized users to try to access data traveling over wireless networks
Radio frequency (RF) jamming
A person or a device intentionally or unintentionally interferes with your wireless network transmissions
NFC security

29. What’s in IT for ME? Accounting
Use wireless applications to count and audit inventory, control costs, and manage prices
Finance
Wireless financial services could provide competitive advantages
Marketing
Utilize location-based services, RFID, and pervasive computing for marketing and advertising activities
Production/Operations Management
Support communication and collaboration regardless of location for production, control, and safety
Human Resources Management
Use mobile devices and applications for off-site training
MIS
Provides wireless infrastructure for employees

30. Closing Case 1: The Battle for the Mobile Wallet
The Problem
A Variety of Solutions
The Results
Questions
Given that you can lose a cell phone as easily as a wallet, which do you feel is a more secure way of carrying your personal data? Support your answer.
If mobile computing is the next wave of technology, would you ever feel comfortable with handing a waiter or waitress your cell phone to make a payment at a restaurant the way you currently hand over your credit or debit card? Why or why not?
What happens if you lose your NFC-enabled smart phone or it is stolen? How do you protect your personal information?
In your opinion, is the mobile wallet a good idea? Why or why not?

31. Closing Case 2: A Paperless Airport
The Problem
The IT Solution
The Results
Questions
What are the possible disadvantages of Quantas’s RFID system?
How could Quantas measure the value of the RFID system? Provide specific examples of metrics that the airline could use to justify the cost of the system. Please also provide nonquantifiable measures that Quantas could use to justify its system.