| Not too long ago, there were people who worked | | | | are sharing the bandwidth. The router also only |
| in "computers". There were so few applications of | | | | provides Internet services for a very short range. |
| these devices at that time that anyone who | | | | You may be able to pick up the signal out in the |
| worked with them was some sort of | | | | parking lot, but drive a block or so and the coffee |
| programmer. Today, the same metamorphosis is | | | | shop's connection will disappear. These routers are |
| happening to the word "wireless". Wireless | | | | short-range devices that provide a Local Area |
| technologies are all simply technologies that use | | | | Network (LAN) for several different computers. |
| radio waves or non-visible forms of light to | | | | There are wireless Internet services which are |
| communicate and exchange information. The | | | | much larger and longer-reaching. WiMax, for |
| confusion comes from the service area that | | | | instance, offers up to 4G of bandwidth, in some |
| these wireless devices accommodate. Some of | | | | places, which is available to anyone who has the |
| them are very far-reaching and others are | | | | credentials to access the network. In this case, |
| designed only to provide service to a single | | | | the wireless service is that with which many |
| building. | | | | users confuse wireless LAN-or Wi-Fi-services. This |
| If you see a coffee shop that offers wireless | | | | service is the type you can pick up anywhere the |
| Internet, they're most likely using what's called a | | | | radio signal is strong enough. This could be the |
| wireless router. These devices allow the coffee | | | | parking lot, your bedroom, the coffee shop, the |
| shop to offer its service to everyone in the | | | | block next to the coffee shop and so forth. |
| building. The router, however, is actually only | | | | These signals are usually used by ISPs. |
| providing one Internet connection and all the users | | | | |