A cellular network or mobile network is a
communication network where the last link is wireless. The network is
distributed over land areas called cells, each served by at least one
fixed-location transceiver, known as a cell site or base station.
There are a number of different digital cellular technologies including :
G in 2G, 3G and 4G stands for the “Generation” of the mobile network. Today, mobile operators have started offering 4G services in the country. A higher number before the 'G' means more power to send out and receive more information and therefore the ability to achieve a higher efficiency through the wireless network.
NFC means Near Field Communication. Just like Bluetooth and WiFi, and all manner of other wireless signals, NFC works on the principle of sending information over radio waves. The technology used in NFC is based on older RFID (Radio-frequency identification) ideas, which uses electromagnetic induction in order to transmit information.
This marks the one major difference between NFC and Bluetooth/WiFi, as it can be used to induce electric currents within passive components as well as just send data. This means that passive devices don’t require their own power supply, and can instead be powered by the electromagnetic field produced by an active NFC component when it comes into range.
Unfortunately, NFC technology does not command enough inductance to be used to charge our smartphones, but QI charging is based on the same principle.
Comparison with Bluetooth
The major argument in favor of NFC is that it has much lower power consumption than Bluetooth, even lower than the new Bluetooth 4.0 (aka Bluetooth low energy). This makes NFC perfect for passive devices, such as the advertising tags that we mentioned earlier, as they can operate without the need for a major power source.
However, this power saving does have some major drawbacks. Range of transmission is much shorter than Bluetooth. While NFC has a range of around 10cm, just a few inches, Bluetooth connections can transmit data up to 10m or more from the source.
Another drawback is that NFC is quite a bit slower than Bluetooth, transmitting data at a maximum speed of just 424 kbit/s compared with 2.1 Mbit/s with Bluetooth 2.1 or around 1 Mbit/s with Bluetooth Low Energy.
But NFC does have one advantage when it comes to speed, faster connectivity. Due to the use of inductive coupling, and the absence of manual pairing, it takes less than one tenth of a second to establish a connection between two devices, a speed which has only recently been matched by Bluetooth 4.0.
Google Wallet is an NFC based wireless payment system that allows its users to store debit and credit card information to make payments at PayPass-enabled terminal at checkouts.
You may have noticed that NFC based Android Beam, or S Beam on Samsung’s Galaxy handsets, actually uses Bluetooth or WiFi Direct to share information between devices.
These two technologies actually only use NFC to quickly link the two devices together. This combination of wireless standards allows for maximum wireless transfer speeds, but without the longer connectivity times associated with Bluetooth.
A Standard for the Future
With the growth of interactive advertising, contact less payment systems, and the introduction of services like Google Wallet in the US, NFC is the wireless standard best poised to make our smartphones a viable alternative to credit and transport cards. But if a few more budget and mid-range smartphones start shipping with NFC, this could be the way that a lot of us pay for our goods in the future.
Many applications are also based on NFC technology. Samsung Galaxy J series have given S-bike mode for a rider which facilitates call while driving. Also phone is automated by NFC. So there is very much future scope for it.
There are a number of different digital cellular technologies including :
· Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM),
· General Packet Radio Service (GPRS),
· cdmaOne, CDMA2000,
· Evolution-Data Optimized (EV-DO),
· Enhanced Data Rates for GSM Evolution (EDGE),
· Universal Mobile Telecommunications System (UMTS),
· Digital Enhanced Cordless Telecommunications (DECT),
· Digital AMPS (IS-136/TDMA), and
· Integrated Digital Enhanced Network (iDEN)
G in 2G, 3G and 4G stands for the “Generation” of the mobile network. Today, mobile operators have started offering 4G services in the country. A higher number before the 'G' means more power to send out and receive more information and therefore the ability to achieve a higher efficiency through the wireless network.
NFC-Near Field Communication
NFC means Near Field Communication. Just like Bluetooth and WiFi, and all manner of other wireless signals, NFC works on the principle of sending information over radio waves. The technology used in NFC is based on older RFID (Radio-frequency identification) ideas, which uses electromagnetic induction in order to transmit information.
This marks the one major difference between NFC and Bluetooth/WiFi, as it can be used to induce electric currents within passive components as well as just send data. This means that passive devices don’t require their own power supply, and can instead be powered by the electromagnetic field produced by an active NFC component when it comes into range.
Unfortunately, NFC technology does not command enough inductance to be used to charge our smartphones, but QI charging is based on the same principle.
Comparison with Bluetooth
The major argument in favor of NFC is that it has much lower power consumption than Bluetooth, even lower than the new Bluetooth 4.0 (aka Bluetooth low energy). This makes NFC perfect for passive devices, such as the advertising tags that we mentioned earlier, as they can operate without the need for a major power source.
However, this power saving does have some major drawbacks. Range of transmission is much shorter than Bluetooth. While NFC has a range of around 10cm, just a few inches, Bluetooth connections can transmit data up to 10m or more from the source.
Another drawback is that NFC is quite a bit slower than Bluetooth, transmitting data at a maximum speed of just 424 kbit/s compared with 2.1 Mbit/s with Bluetooth 2.1 or around 1 Mbit/s with Bluetooth Low Energy.
But NFC does have one advantage when it comes to speed, faster connectivity. Due to the use of inductive coupling, and the absence of manual pairing, it takes less than one tenth of a second to establish a connection between two devices, a speed which has only recently been matched by Bluetooth 4.0.
Google Wallet
Google Wallet is an NFC based wireless payment system that allows its users to store debit and credit card information to make payments at PayPass-enabled terminal at checkouts.
You may have noticed that NFC based Android Beam, or S Beam on Samsung’s Galaxy handsets, actually uses Bluetooth or WiFi Direct to share information between devices.
These two technologies actually only use NFC to quickly link the two devices together. This combination of wireless standards allows for maximum wireless transfer speeds, but without the longer connectivity times associated with Bluetooth.
A Standard for the Future
With the growth of interactive advertising, contact less payment systems, and the introduction of services like Google Wallet in the US, NFC is the wireless standard best poised to make our smartphones a viable alternative to credit and transport cards. But if a few more budget and mid-range smartphones start shipping with NFC, this could be the way that a lot of us pay for our goods in the future.
Many applications are also based on NFC technology. Samsung Galaxy J series have given S-bike mode for a rider which facilitates call while driving. Also phone is automated by NFC. So there is very much future scope for it.
This blog likely delves into the intricacies of mobile networking systems, explaining how they enable devices to connect to cellular networks, access the internet, and communicate with other devices.
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