Introduction

Abstract

In recent years, the need for personal mobile communications - “anytime, anywhere” access to data and communication services – has become increasingly clear. Digital cellular telephony, such as the U.S. Digital PCS and the European GSM systems, has seen rapid acceptance and growth in the marketplace. Likewise, the tremendous impact of the Internet has resulted in a growing demand for a new kind of data access: mobile retrieval. No longer content with being restricted to the office or home to read electronic mail or search for information on the Web, users are now looking for means to access their information while on-the-go. A simple notebook computer by itself does not suffice; although the computing capability is mobile, the communications must become mobile as well. Services such as the Metricom wireless data network and cellular digital packet data are becoming increasingly commonplace – a testament to the need for ubiquitous information and communications access.