Mobile Networks and Applications

Mobile Networking is a technology which involves supporting voice and data network connectivity by using a wireless through a radio transmission solution. The most used mobile networking application is a mobile phone. Unlike the past, when circuit switching was used by wireless communications to carry voice over a network, presently both voice and data can be transmitted over both packet switched and circuit switched networks.

The radio spectrum for mobile networks has expanded with time. A summary of different generations of mobile networking is given below.

First Generation – 1G
1981 – NMT Launch

The first generation mobile systems consisted of an analogue transmission of signals. The voice traffic was restricted with only a call at a time on every radio channel. The voice quality was also not ensured and the voice transmitted could not be encrypted, making it an insecure transmission in the terms of revealing identities of the senders and the receivers.

Second Generation (2G)
1991 – GSM launch

With the evolution of mobile technology, digital transmission using number of different standards such as ERMES, GSM, CT2 & 3, DCS 1800 and DECT was introduced. Out of all these, GSM (Global system for mobile) having 900MHz and 1800 MHz bandwidth is the most common in use today. For the authentication of a subscriber, GSM uses SIM technology (Subscriber Identity Module) for identification purposes and billing related issues. GSM not only encrypts the data but also uses TDMA (Time division multiple Access) and CDMA One (Code division Multiple Access One) technology to increase the information traffic on the network.

Third Generation (3G)
2003 – First UK 3G launch

The latest evolution in the advancements done so far in the mobile systems is the 3G technology which relates different technology standards and high bandwidths for transmission. CDMA (Code Division Multiple Access) is used to deliver data at high rates which can be up to 2Mbit/s, which can also support multimedia services like voice, MMS, data and videos. These mobile systems also use digital transmission technology having SIM for data encryption and billing purposes.

Fourth Generation (4G)
2007 till date

The Fourth Generation of mobile technology or simply 4G, is still at an early stage. There is no requirement of any fixed infrastructure for operating this generation as its networking model is an ad hoc one. Global mobility features like Mobile IP and the permission of connecting to a global IPv6 network for the support of any IP address for every kind of mobile device are required in Ad hoc networks. In heterogeneous IP networks like 802.11 WLAN, UMTS and GPRS, seamless roaming without any interruptions will be possible, mainly due to very high rates of data transfer, ranging from 2Mbit/s to 10-100Mbits/sec. This will result in fewer amounts of delays and offering of new services. Unlike today, the mobile networks will stop depending on a fixed infrastructure. They will have to have an enhanced amount of intelligence for the self configuration of ad hoc networks having the capability of routing over packet switched network.

Any type of wired or unwired networking technologies are used by Mobile IT devices. These technologies can either be due to an in-built capability or because of a network adapter.

These options consist of:

Use of services like Global System for Mobile Communication (GSM), Third Generation (3G), and General Packet Radio Service (GPRS), offered by mobile networks.

Use of LAN (Local Area Networks) in which connections are established via a wire is also present. It is used in offices and public internet cafes. The most popular being the Ethernet.

In huge offices and public hot spots, wireless LAN’s are used – WiFi (Wireless Fidelity) being the most popular one.

Lastly, a connection to other mobile devices can also be established through a Bluetooth or an Infrared device.