Cut the cord: going wireless opens a whole new way of doing things.

• Author: Cieslak, David
• Position: Wireless Technology

The wireless revolution continues to change the way individuals and businesses work, access information and communicate. As the technology becomes more affordable and gains broader acceptance, more and more individuals and organizations will be jumping on the bandwagon. How can a CPA take advantage of the many benefits wireless technology offers without getting completely buried in buzzwords, acronyms and geek speak?

First and foremost, the goal behind any wireless initiative must be considered. Ask yourself, Why do you want to go wireless? What would you like to access wirelessly? E-mail? Internet? Other critical applications? Will it increase business? Will it increase your productivity? Second, match that goal with an understanding of existing wireless options. And third, consider the importance of information security with each solution. Follow these steps and you'll be well on your way toward making wireless technology work for you and your business.

UNPLUGGED

In its simplest terms, wireless refers to the connection of two devices without the use of a physical wire. Functionally, the term includes a number of different technologies ranging from short range (a few feet) to wide area (miles). To better understand wireless and some of the evolving wireless technologies, it's helpful to break it down into the following categories:

* Personal Area Network (PAN)

* Wireless LAN (WLAN) Technologies (802.1x)

* Wireless WAN (WWAN) Technologies (2G, 3G)

PANs

Personal Area Networks, or PANs, use Bluetooth technology to create a short-range connection between various devices. Bluetooth is a short range (30 feet) radio technology operating in the 2.4GHz band with transfer speeds up to 1Mbps.

Bluetooth is showing up on a number of new devices, including desktop and laptop computers, printers, peripherals, PDAs and phones, allowing these devices to "network on the fly" and share information. While general acceptance is still somewhat limited, look for this technology to show up in more and more of the latest consumer electronic devices--everything from automobiles to refrigerators--basically wherever short range connectivity is required.

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WLANs

When most people refer to wireless, they are referring to wireless local area networking, or WLANs. This technology often is also identified or referred to by its IEEE standard designation of 802.11. The 802.11 standard is actually a number of different specifications that operate at...