Connectivity is now almost a requirement to modern lifestyle. It has become such a prominent feature not only in how man connects with each other across distances but also in how he does business across national and cultural lines. Mobile technology is now leading the charge into the next generation of technology that seeks to bridge the digital divide.
Mobile technology is not just about smartphones nor is it about mobile web development. It encompasses a string of innovations that does not only serve man's emerging demand for connectivity and mobility but also but diversifies it. Among these innovations is the Wi Fi technology.
The wireless technology called wi-fi allows internet connection to be broadcasted through radio waves within a certain area or zone. It provides direct internet connectivity to users free from the mess of wirings.
What is now known in almost universal vocabulary as wi-fi is actually a wireless technology brand owned by a group called Wi-Fi Alliance. It is a confederation of independent companies that took it upon themselves to agree to a set of common standard for interoperability of their products in compliance with the family of IEEE 802.11 standards. The organization then certifies products via a set of established test procedures to establish the said interoperability. Those products who pass these interoperability tests will earn the right to mark their products and product packaging with the now universally recognizable wi-fi signature logo.
The basic element behind wi-fi technology is not really entirely new. It utilizes radio waves a medium of transmission. Radio signals are transmitted from antennas and routers and are received by Wi-Fi sensing devices like computers and mobile phones with either built-in functionality or supported by a peripheral device. Usually the connection speed increases the wi-fi-compatible device gets closer to the main source of the signal and decreases when otherwise.
The bunch of modern tech products that came out recently is already manufactured with a Wi-Fi connectivity feature. Wi-Fi support can be external or internal. This means that if a device does not have a built-in hardware for Wi-Fi functionality, Wi-Fi connection can be availed externally by a separate gadget that may connect through USB ports or have an antenna-equipped expansion card installed directly to the computer.
Devices without wi-fi connectivity can then be augmented by external means of connecting to the internet. Depending on the settings of the provider of wi-fi radio signal, once the receiving device detects a Wi-Fi signal, it will then attempt to avail it. If the provider has setup a password as requirement for access, then a user has to enter that password before full access is achieved.
This is the same with other mobile devices. Whether it is an iPad, an Android-powered cellular phone or smartphone with a more universal interface, devices must meet the login requirements of the signal provider before it can establish connection and browse those mobile optimized websites.
The area or zone wherein any device with Wi-Fi connectivity can access the internet is called a hot spot. It allows these mobile devices to access the web without actual physical connection. The size of this area can be setup in the Wi-Fi provider's menu. Whether you are using routers or other means to broadcast wi-fi signals, you still need to setup these devices accordingly.
The radio waves used in wi-fi have a few peculiarities when compared with other technologies that use it. Their transmission has frequencies ranges between 2.4 GHz and 5GHz. This range is considerably higher than the frequencies utilized in cellular phones, two-way radios and television broadcasts. This higher frequency allows it to be able to handle more data.
Wi-Fi technology indeed has diversified how connectivity is being maximized. It has found its most use on businesses wanting to offer internet connection for free in as a sort of incentive for coming to their place. Strong wi-fi zones are now mostly owned by malls, hotels, food chains and other establishments where customers may access the internet while spending time and money within their premises.
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