| Using mobile computers when in transit implies | | | | particular city or metropolitan area. Devices such |
| mobile computing. This is effectuated by using | | | | as mobile phones and car computers can be |
| wireless technologies such as LAN, WAN, Wi-Fi, | | | | hooked up onto MAN to keep them |
| GPRS, etc.LAN refers to Local Area Networking. | | | | interconnected. MAN provides speeds of 128 kbps |
| This is not a very mobile technology, as it | | | | or 256 kbps. Cities such as New York, Philadelphia, |
| restricts the area of its reach. LAN refers to the | | | | Minnesota, Atlanta, Baltimore, Dallas and about 15 |
| connectivity of two or more fixed or mobile | | | | major airports in America are currently connected |
| computing devices within a particular area. This | | | | by MAN.Cell phones are currently the most |
| connection can be done physically by cables (in | | | | commonly used mobile computing devices on the |
| which case it would not be an example of mobile | | | | planet. They use wireless technologies such as |
| computing) or other connections such as infrared | | | | GSM, CDMA, WLL, GPRS, EDGE, 3G etc. for their |
| rays and wireless connections. LAN enables | | | | connectivity. Currently, GPRS or General Packet |
| computers within its reach to share and compute | | | | Radio Service is considered a fast-growing |
| data. It is primarily an intranet network.WAN is | | | | technology. GPRS networks coupled with EDGE or |
| Wide Area Networking. It is wider in its outreach. | | | | Enhanced Data Rates for Global Evolution provide |
| WAN refers to the connection of two locations. | | | | fast Internet connection on cell phones. They can |
| These locations may be connected internally | | | | provide data transfer speeds of about 384 kbps, |
| through LAN networks. WAN essentially uses | | | | which are much higher than GSM and CDMA |
| wireless connections between its locations.MAN is | | | | technologies.Besides these popular services, there |
| another kind of network used in mobile computing. | | | | are also some lesser-known networks that have |
| It stands for Metropolitan Area Networking and it | | | | been introduced lately. One such network, the |
| connects mobile computing devices within a | | | | Metricom, was available in 12 cities and 15 airports. |