| |
EDGE |
3G |
Bluetooth |
Wireless LAN |
| Found in devices like... |
Mobile phones |
Mobile phones. |
Mobile phones, notebooks, wireless headsets, handhelds. |
Wireless networking devices, notebooks, handhelds,
and soon Mobile phones. |
| Best suited for environments such as... |
Wide open areas, outdoors. |
Wide open areas, outdoors |
Between two Bluetooth-enabled objects in close proximity. |
Enclosed areas, such as shopping malls. |
| Works over distances as wide as... |
Very wide coverage, dependent on operator. |
Very wide coverage, dependent on operator. |
10m |
30m |
| Theoretical transfer rates |
384kbps |
384kbps or more |
1Mbps |
54Mbps |
| Pros |
Flexible enough to be used in different environments;
a safer interim step to 3G. |
Flexible enough to be used in different environments. |
Straightforward concept of cable replacement. |
Relatively inexpensive; high speeds. |
| Cons |
Operators and handset makers may elect to bypass
EDGE into 3G. |
Pricey, technology is not mature. |
Limited number of devices; still having problems
unseating the cheap and prevalent infrared technology. |
Limited to indoor environments at present. |
| Proponents of this technology include... |
Telstra (Australia), StarHub (Singapore), Hong Kong
CSL, Cingular Wireless (USA), Motorola, Nokia. |
Hutchison (UK, Italy and Australia), NTT DoCoMo (Japan),
SK Telecom (South Korea), all major handset makers.
|
Sony Ericsson, Palm, HP, Logitech. |
Major networking manufacturers, IBM, Toshiba, Intel. |
