Wireless networks supported include both legacy packet networks (DataTAC and Mobitex) and newer cellular networks (CDMA 1X, GSM/GPRS, Nextel IDEN.)
How well can RIM evolve from messaging to general-purpose wireless? Hedging its bets, RIM is licensing its Blackberry so that other wireless platforms can access RIM mail gateways. The Sony Ericsson P900 Symbian devices, for example, will soon offer the Blackberry client. This makes sense given that RIM, even with all its success, has only 1 million subscribers.
Research In Motion, (877) BLK-BERR, (519) 888-7465. www.blackberry.com, www.rim.comThe last heavyweight in the wireless platform market is Symbian, a joint venture of Psion, Nokia, Sony Ericsson, Siemens and Samsung. Symbian's view is that the complexity of next-generation software mandates a joint effort from mobile phone leaders. Smartphones based on the Symbian platform are available from all the partners, Sendo and Motorola. Symbian phones dominate the market, partly because of the emphasis Symbian licensees place on functionality, but more likely thanks to the market position of the top Symbian licensees.
Symbian devices span a broad range of forms, including devices with standard keypads, or with a stylus and touchpad, and some providing full keyboards. Display sizes vary as well. Symbian licenses to phone makers a version of its OS, called UIQ, while Nokia licenses a different version, called Series 60. Phone manufacturers further enhance the capabilities of their phones.
Symbian lists more than 2,000 commercially available apps, many of which are business-related. Developers can work in C++, Java J2ME with MIDP 2.0, Personal Java 1.1.1a, Visual Basic or WAP. Nine companies supply development tools. E-mail protocols include POP3, IMAP4, SMTP and MHTML, and messaging support includes EMS, MMS, SMS and fax. The platform supports browsers through third-party solutions and a browser plug-in architecture. As for hardware, five vendors supply 15 devices. VPN support is through a Certicom client. Wireless support includes Bluetooth, IrDA, CDMA 1X, GPRS, EDGE and WCDMA.
Pending 6GHz spectrum availability, faster speeds, and private wireless access use drive FWA forward.
The new HPE Aruba 730 series Wi-Fi 7 access points tout high performance, enhanced security, location tracking capabilities, and more.
Verizon is demoing crowd analytics technology that uses 5G along with AI and mobile edge computing to give stadium operators insights into the flow of fans throughout a venue.
