Wireless Hotspots, current challenges and future directions

Wireless hotspots are becoming more and more common in public locations now days. Making it possible for people to access the web, email and other Internet functions from virtually any location known as hotspots, which are Wireless local area Networks. By utilizing these wireless hotspots you can access the Internet from anywhere ranging from your home, airports, hotels, libraries and soon even places like Star Bucks & McDonalds. In recent years the number of wireless users and technology has had severe growth, through the demand of many traveling laptop and mobile device users. In order for hotspot providers to succeed they must build a reliable business plan, which consists of dependable authenticating system, create a central billing system with other hotspot providers, and provide users with adequate service and performance. Wireless networks are proving itself, as a very cost effective investment for mobile users, through business plans of implementation.

Amateur wireless station (LOC)

English: A photograph of a metro Wi-Fi antenna in ...

wireless router

Wireless networks are very limited on connectivity support for area roaming due to the radio frequency range, unlike the coverage of cellular networks, which span out virtually everywhere. Ideally wireless networks would share the cellular network for connecting to the wireless network, but the bandwidth needs of the wireless network is much greater than that of cellular phones, because they were primarily carry voice traffic. This could possibly overcrowd the network if there is vast amount of users trying to gain access in one area. There are numerous methods that wireless providers are considering for extending the radio frequency range. This includes methods such as range extension through dynamic power management, where increasing the access point power could affect the amount of information transmitted. One very interesting method of connecting Wi-Fi is interoperability with cellular data networks. This would use the cellular network to connect to the nearest hotspot, but...