Wireless data in a dissimilar multiple network environment

Summary form only given. Wireless data networks are unique in that there are three key aspects to a complete solution: the network, the radio modem and the application. As wireless data networks emerged, the focus was on architecting the network and designing small, power efficient modems. Little effort was focused on the connectivity of the network (and modem) to higher operating systems and application layers. This is true whether for fixed side to hosts, LAN servers, etc., or to proper interfaces on the mobile operating system. The present paper explores how the major wide area wireless data networks (RAM, Ardis, CDPD) have approached the problem of connectivity, and discusses the key software interfaces. Specialized transport protocols, high level APIs and low level drive issues are compared and contrasted