Wireless hotspots: current challenges and future directions

  • Authors:
  • Anand Balachandran;Geoffrey M. Voelker;Paramvir Bahl

  • Affiliations:
  • Intel Research, Seattle, Seattle, WA;University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA;Microsoft Research, Redmond, WA

  • Venue:
  • Mobile Networks and Applications - Special issue: Wireless mobile wireless applications and services on WLAN hotspots
  • Year:
  • 2005

Quantified Score

Hi-index 0.00

Visualization

Abstract

In recent years, wireless Interact service providers (WISPs) have established Wi-Fi hotspots in increasing numbers at public venues, providing local coverage to traveling users and empowering them with the ability to access email, Web, and other Internet applications on the move. In this paper, we observe that while the mobile computing landscape has changed both in terms of number and type of hotspot venues, there are several technological and deployment challenges remaining before hotspots can become an ubiquitous infrastructure. These challenges include authentication, security, coverage, management, location services, billing, and interoperability. We discuss existing research, the work of standards bodies, and the experience of commercial hotspot providers in these areas, and then describe compelling open research questions that remain.