Systems issues in wireless communications

The development of technology to permit nearly ubiquitous wireless personal communications is proceeding rapidly. However, most activity focuses on the technology, and not on how it will be integrated into the existing telecommunications infrastructure or how it will deal with user interface issues. These issues are critical to the success of personal wireless communications. Ubiquitous personal communications will not simply happen one day; they must build incrementally on the existing telephone system plant. The author raises several key issues which must be addressed if personal wireless communications are to reach their potential. Among these issues are the nature of the user interface, the huge cost of existing installed plant, the impact of numbering schemes, software complexity, and privacy