Set Yourself FREE!The Wireless DBA

Julie DunnamPrincipal Technical Specialist, OCP

SCT

Session 36022

Objective

To relate information for IT professionals seeking to increase their free time by investing in a wireless solution.

Related Sessions

Recommended or related sessions:– 36843 – Wireless Applications Development – A

puppet show.– 40058 – Oracle Mobile and Wireless Technology

Overview– 40333 – Leveraging Wireless Data and

Collaboration in the communications Industry– 40375 – Developing Occasionally Connected

Applications using Oracle 9iLite

DISCLAIMER

No endorsement is made, implied or inferred Not being paid by any provider or

manufacturer Only represents what I have learned in my

personal quest to find a wireless solution Be sure to check out your solution, before

being committed in a contract.

Heavyweight vs LiteweightGeek-Nerd vs Inconspicuous

Carry laptop, cell, PDA, GPS, and all the other junk you can find and strap it on a police issued toolbelt, or better yet, a couple of ammo belts from the local Army-Navy store.

The Nerd Jacket and Pants One consolidated Solution (MY GOAL!)

Main Topics

Carriers Devices Functionality Applications Costs

Vocabulary/Definitions

TDMA – Time Division Multiple Access - A digital air interface technology used in cellular networks. TDMA allows multiple users to access a single radio frequency channel without interference by allocating unique time slots to each user within each channel.

GPRS

A GSM data transmission technique that transmits and receives data in packets instead of a dedicated channel.

Hot-Spot

Uses WiFi for WLANs. McDonalds, Starbucks, colleges and universities. Mostly in metropolitan areas.

T-Mobile is best known for these Appear in Starbucks, Airports, Universities

Vocabulary Continued

Neat Site for many wireless acronyms and definitions:

http://www.cingular.com/about/newsroom_glossary5

Modes

Air interface transmission methods (such as analog, digital, or digital PCS) a phone can use to communicate with a wireless network.

Single mode

Only work on one type of network, such as analog or digital

Dual mode

Can work with both analog and digital networks.

Tri mode

Tri-mode phones (aka "dual band, dual mode" and "digital multi-network (DMN)") can work with analog, digital and digital PCS networks.

Wireless Technology ‘Bands’

A wireless network's operating system, enabling communication between a cellular phone and its carrier. The main interface technologies are GSM, GPRS, WiFi and Bluetooth

GSM(Global System for Mobile Communications)– 1900 – US Only Band / 900 – Non-US Band

WiFi – (Wireless Fidelity) – Relates to Hotspots Bluetooth - Radio technology that enables devices

such as computers, mobile phones and hands-free kits to be connected without cables up to 30 feet away. Provides complete wireless mobility.

Major US Carriers

AT&T – Best for international coverage Cingular – Seems to be the provider of choice Nextel – Not tested at time of print Sprint – Large selection of devices, only

unlimited data plan, coverage for DATA is sparse

T-Mobile – Claims a reciprocal agreement with AT&T and Sprint, with no roaming

Verizon – “Can you hear me now?”

Devices

Smart Phones– A class of wireless phone handsets with many features, and often

a keyboard. What makes the phone "smart" is its ability to handle data, not only voice calls.

PDA– A portable computing device capable of transmitting data. These

devices make possible services such as paging, data messaging, electronic mail, computing, facsimile, date book and other information handling capabilities

PocketPC – Phone Edition– A portable computing device capable of transmitting data. These

devices make possible services such as paging, data messaging, electronic mail, computing, facsimile, date book and other information handling capabilities

Another solution

Hardware needed– Laptop– Cell phone– ~Data Jack –

Cost – Around $100 plus cell minutes

Cautions

Check the following– Roaming (Free or not)

A factor in the overall cost

– Unlimited data or measured in Kbytes Could make your bill soar!!!

– Contract length avoid getting in a long-term trap

– Coverage areas Take the coverage maps with a grain of salt

Features to Confirm

Memory Battery Capacity

– Talk time– Standby Time

Applications– Cost– Can you get what you need?

Relevant Web Sites to visit

– http://www.pricingcentral.com/electronics/cellphone.htm

– http://getconnected.com/

– http://www.bizrate.com/

– http://www.intelenetwireless.com

COST

Sprint has only unlimited Data plan Most carriers charge by KB downloaded Generally device cost is between $300-$500. Plans for voice(500 mins) plus data (minimal)

run you slightly higher than normal cell usage Real difference is in your utilization of wireless

internet. If you can, wait, prices will go down, while

services and applications get better.

BONUS

Little Bitty Printers!!!– Small variety– Cost (Ruh-Roh!)– Kewl as kewl can be!!!– Thermal printing

Reminder – please complete the OracleWorld online session survey

Thank you.

Set Yourself FREE!The Wireless DBA

Julie DunnamPrincipal Technical Specialist, OCP

SCT

Session 36022