Wireless Web: A Manager's Guide

About two years ago I had the pleasure of hearing Frank Coyle speak at an industry conference. Frank's talk at the conference was primarily on XML (Extensible Markup Language). During the talk I was very impressed with the breadth and depth of Frank's knowledge. He traced the development of XML from its origins in GML (Generalized Markup Language) from the 1970s to SGML (Standard Generalized Markup Language) to HTML and XHTML, touching on a variety of important issues along the way. In parallel with the development of XML Frank outlined the development of programming languages, describing them as code- or data-centric and traced their influences and progress from procedural-oriented to their eventual support for objects and components. Frank then showed the relationship of markup languages to the world of components and how they all fit together. Frank's talk wasn't a history lesson, but an in-depth examination of XML technology along with the how, what, where, and why it is important. It was a tour-de-force presentation that finally allowed me to see and appreciate the context and proper application of XML. I am happy to report that most of Frank's XML presentation is included in his book, "Wireless Web - A Manager's Guide." Frank's ability to distill and explain is extended, in the book, to all things wireless and the convergence of wireless with the Web. Frank covers the majority of wireless technologies from the perspective of three evolving forms: the cell phone, the personal digital assistant (PDA), and the portable computer, within a larger context of the wireless advantages, including localization, personalization, and immediacy. Separate chapters are devoted to wireless devices, Bluetooth, WLAN (wireless LAN), 1G, 2G, and 3G networks, WAP (wireless application protocol), XML, Java, and security issues.Managers, programmers, and consultants who are looking to understand and implement wireless applications will find this book essential. It is the only book I have found that provides the in-depth coverage combined with the necessary touchstones to guide your journey. It is a smart book written by a sharp author who understands technology is best considered in context and converging influences. After reading this book you will not only understand the current wireless landscape, but also be in a position to make intelligent judgments on its future directions.

Wireless Web is an effective technology primer for managers. It provides a well-illustrated introduction to the applications, devices, networks, and standards that drive the wireless Web. The greatest strength of this book is Dr. Coyle's impressive use of analogies and executive summaries. For example, he uses the analogy of all the conversations that are carried on in a busy restaurant as a way to explain how multiple `conversations' can take place simultaneously over a CDMA cellular network. The analogies and side bars makes this one of the most readable technology books I have come across. The author covers the important current wireless Web standards - WAP, Bluetooth, I-Mode, etc. with enough depth to show you where they fit into the puzzle. He also devotes chapters to XML and security. While you might question whether these topics belong in a wireless book, they are pervasive standards that are integral to other wireless standards. I would like to have seen more coverage of the Java 2 Micro Edition, but given the length of the book this would have been difficult. The chapter on wireless networks is excellent because it provides a realistic analysis of where we have been and where we are going is this highly dynamic area. All in all, this is a well rounded book written for an international audience. I found it a great starting point for learning about the wireless Web.

Despite the continuing problems with everything from content to the protocols, there is still no question that the wireless transfer of data has a dynamic future. Incorporating wireless equipment into your operations is a significant decision and it is incumbent on all managers to learn the rudiments of what wireless technolog\y is and what it can do for you. If that is your goal then this is the place to start. Designed for the non-technical person, the approach used in this book is right on that target. All of the general principles of what wireless is and what it is supposed to do are explained. The problem is of course that the gap between what it is supposed to do and what it can do has not been closed. These problems are mentioned, but not to as great an extent as they could have been. I subscribe to several trade magazines and it has been some time since there has been an issue that did not contain an article describing some problem with wireless. Another concern is in the citing of statistics. While the source is cited when a data point is given, there is no mention of the range of estimates. As a new technology, the range of estimates for the monetary value of wireless is quite wide. Simply citing one of the more optimistic estimates does no justice to the extensive debate regarding the actual value of wireless in the future. As befits an overview, the authors include a large number of print and online references. While no such list can ever be complete, they are certainly the first step to a complete one. Overall, I found the book to be satisfactorily simplistic in tone, neither too simple or too hard. As long as you read it with the knowledge that no one statistic concerning an emerging technology can be trusted, you will find it of value.