Trends in personal wireless data communications

This paper gives an overview of the background, current status, and ongoing trends in wireless personal data communications. The driving force behind the future development is proven to be the convergence of multimedia conten t, the Internet, and wireless mobile devices. Network technologies from glo bal coverage to short-range personal area networks are reviewed focusing on the most prospective standardisation and specification efforts. Future wir eless services will be implemented using several network technologies, duo, to which the portability of services across networks is the most important issue. Especially the support for Quality of Service is emphasised in each wireless network. In a discussion, winners and losers are examined from th e global convergence point of view. (C) 2002 Elsevier Science B.V. All righ ts reserved.