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The WDF Wireless Data Primer Introduction The last twenty years have seen an explosion in wireless communications and computer technology. The last five years have seen the explosion of the Internet. Standing at the center of this convergence is the wireless data industry. This "primer" provides a general overview of the industry and its key components. Definition Wireless data telegraphy is defined as communication without wires over distance by the use of arbitrary codes. Primitive examples include waving lanterns by night or sending smoke signals. Modern examples include hand-held devices like pagers, smart phones and personal digital assistants (PDAs) using wireless modems to enable wireless data communications. Wireless data: basic types and applications While the technologies, protocols and network infrastructure supporting wireless data are often complex, most data applications can be simply divided into three main types: bursty, query-response, and batch-files Bursty data -- quick bursts of data are sent from point-to-point. Emerging applications in this area include remote electric power meter readings, wireless burglar alarms, and other remote sensing applications. Query/response -- query and response lies at the heart of new wireless data applications and devices that allow for wireless e-mail and Internet access. The wireless data market Current revenue forecasts for the wireless data market predict strong industry growth. Some examples: Frost & Sullivan: The compound annual growth rate (CAGR) for wireless data from 1996 through 2003 is projected to be 35 percent. The market is expected to grow to ten times its current value and reach close to $2.5 billion by the year 2002. sources: Frost & Sullivan reports, "Mobile Data Services: How to Keep Your Customers and Profits Moving" and "North American Wireless Office Markets." Yankee Group: The Yankee Group projects that more than 1 million wireless intelligent terminals (WITs) will be sold in the year 2000 - comprising almost 4 percent of total wireless terminal sales that year. Source: The Yankee Group, "Phones with WITs: Wireless Intelligent Terminals Wireless/Mobile Planning Service White Paper v.4, n.10, Published May 1996 Gartner Group: The opportunity for wireless data communication in the United States is huge, with 25.3 million of the 112.1 million workforce having a mobile job requirement, but growth will be slow and steady. Source: The Gartner Group, The Dataquest Market Analysis Perspective, "Wireless Data in the United States: Pieces of the Puzzle are Missing, but a Picture is Taking Shape" Strategis: Two million wireless data subscribers exist in 1997 and the market is predicted to grow at an average annual rate of over 40 percent through 2002. Source: US Mobile Data Marketplace: 1997 Ovum: By the end of the year 2000, there will be over 3 million users of data over GSM services in Western Europe, rising from a current installed base of around 300,000. In the UK, there will be 900,000 users of data over GSM services by 2000, rising from the current installed base of around 90,000. source: "Data over GSM: Market Development", Ovum (UK) The wireless data market: vertical and horizontal The wireless data industry began its development through vertical applications within specific industries, such as dispatching, fleet management and point-of-sale. Horizontal applications cut across different industries: examples include so-called "road warrior" devices such as pagers and PDAs. Vertical Applications Field service