The GSM MoU Association represents the interests of 323 administrative, network and satellite operators from 128 countries and areas in the world. The Bluetooth Special Interest Group is an industry group consisting of leaders in the telecommunications and computing industries that are driving development of low-cost, short-range radio links between mobile PC's, phones and other portable devices. 

The Iridium system is a global wireless communications network that combines the worldwide reach of 66 low-earth-orbit satellites with land-based wireless systems to enable subscribers to communicate using handheld telephones and pagers virtually anywhere in the world.

In cellular speak, analog technology is considered to be "first generation," and digital cellular technology and new high-speed technologies are thought of in terms of "second generation."  The next generation will take an even bigger leap than each of its predecessors.

Third generation cellular technology refers to data transmission speeds in the range of 144,000 bps up to 2 megabytes per second, and will enable wireless multimedia applications such as video conferencing.  This technology, which is expected to be implemented in approximately five years, will also have a new unified standard called UMTS (Universal Mobile Telecommunications System), which will be a combination of the current technologies along with new developments. 

As Internet and intranet usage becomes more and more a part of daily life for mobile users, and with the mobile phone industry enjoying very rapid growth, several new developments are expected: 

• The range of applications offered, with home banking and electronic trading already emerging.
• The development of interworking between different wireless networks with different cellular technologies, cordless and GSM, and satellite and GSM already in hand. 
• The development of advanced new broadband wireless technology offering at least 144Kbit/s transmission rates by 2000.
• The development of new types of terminals with data only facilities over GSM already on offer without the need for a cellular phone.

Applications drive the mobile data market. The introduction of sophisticated applications can revolutionize business operations, as has been seen in service engineering and dispatching.  There is currently a new generation of applications for fixed networks, that link into corporate databases to provide such capabilities as sales support functions, tracking and e-commerce, along with many others. These would be easily transferable to a mobile environment.  Major banks, retailers and credit card companies are now installing mobile data systems.

Mobile data applications are expected to revolutionize the manner in which business is conducted, in the same way in which fixed data networks transformed businesses in the 1980s.  No company today would consider operating without using fixed data networks to access the Internet, send e-mail or trade electronically.  By 2005, it could be the case that no company would consider operating without enabling all mobile workers to use the same applications they do at the office.

Source:  GSM MoU Association