Ah, but that's not all. There's also 802.11a (which, perversely, is a newer standard than 802.11b). And just in case you want to be even more confused, 802.11a is also called WiFi5. This runs five times faster than 802.11b, but it's not compatible with it.

So now that 802.11b has begun to really catch on, should you ditch it in favor of some other 802.11 alphabet soup? We don't think so. 802.11b seems just fine, and it's actually available and works.

Wide range wireless
Your cell phone uses a different type of wireless connectivity altogether. This is wide range wireless, and the exact form of wireless technology you use depends on both your location and your device. Wide range wireless technology is also used by the Palm VII series devices and the various modem accessories available for other Palm handhelds.

CDMA (Code Division Multiple Access) is the wireless standard commonly used in the United States. The digital wireless technology was pioneered and commercially developed by QUALCOMM (at http://www.qualcomm.com). In phones, CDMA works by converting speech into digital information. This digital information is then transmitted as a radio signal over a wireless network. A unique code is used to distinguish each different call so that many calls can share the airwaves at the same time. Fortunately for we users of Palm handhelds, CDMA also has high-speed data capabilities.

This is what allows us to use Palm VII devices or other Palm handhelds equipped with modem accessories to cruise the Internet while on the go. You can check stock reports, read up to the minute news, or do whatever else you might normally do on the Internet with a desktop PC, and you can do it all while riding the bus to work or standing out on a street corner.

Another big advantage of having a wirelessly enabled Palm handheld is the ability to send and receive email. You never need to be out of touch again while on the road. You can also use your favorite instant messaging software to communicate in real time. I particularly recommend you opt for instant messaging over your cell phone if you're sitting near me in a restaurant.

GSM (Global System for Mobile Communication) is the wireless standard for many areas outside the U.S. The reason it's so widely accepted may be because one of its strengths is its international roaming capability, giving you seamless "same number contactability" in more than 170 countries.

GSM uses digital technology and time division multiple access transmission methods. Voice is digitally encoded via a unique encoder, which emulates the characteristics of human speech, affording an efficient data rate/information content ratio.

Which is right for you?
There's really no need to try to choose between Bluetooth, 802.11b, and wide range wireless. As you rely more heavily on your Palm handheld, you'll most likely find all three wireless solutions are right for you depending on where you are and what you're doing at any given time. For close quarter device-to-device communication, you'll probably want a Bluetooth solution. For working around the office, 802.11b connectivity is ideal. And for connecting on the go, nothing beats wide range wireless solutions like the Palm VII and other Palm handheld modems.

Stephen Vance is a Contributing Editor for Computing Unplugged Magazine. His Web site is located at http://www.vance.com. He can be reached at steve@vance.com.