The fascinating world of mobile computing has only been around since the 1990s. Since then, devices that have been developed for mobile computing have taken over the wireless industry. This new type of communication is a very powerful tool for both business and personal use. Mobile computing is defined as the ability to use technology that is not physically connected to any static network. Actually, this used to mean radio transmitters operating on a stable basis, usually with the help of large antennas. Two-way radios used by police officers were also considered mobile technology, but now it means people can connect wirelessly to the Internet or a private network almost anywhere. As long as a person has one of the devices capable of accessing the Internet wirelessly, he is participating in mobile computing. Most likely, he did it with a laptop or personal digital assistant or PDA.
These days, most laptops and personal digital assistants have built-in wireless cards or Bluetooth interfaces for convenient mobile Internet access. Mobile solutions are right under everyone’s nose these days, and connectivity has never been easier. Other common tools for mobile computing include devices like global positioning systems and smartphones like the Cingular Blackberry. Tons of PDA software development has taken place in the last five years simply because companies have worked hard to make PDA technology more available to the general public. Today, software companies almost make more software for PDAs and smartphones than they do for actual desktop computers.
Pocket PCs are another way to conveniently access the Internet on the go. Everyone has probably heard of the Palm Pilot. Although they were the pioneers of the pocket PC, many other companies, such as Dell, HP, and Toshiba, have entered the market. Pocket PC software has also become much easier to use. Most Palms use the familiar Windows interface, allowing the general public to access the Internet through regular Internet Explorer or other ISPs. Additionally, people can easily download useful software, including games, media editing tools, organization tools, and even e-books.
Mobile computing has evolved from two-way radios that use large antennas to communicate simple messages to three-inch personal computers that can do almost everything a normal computer can. People can’t go to their local Starbucks and not see a laptop connected to a hotspot these days, and mobile computing is still in its infancy.
