Jack M. Holtzman

David J. Goodman

The past several years have been exciting for wireless communications. The public appetite for new services and equipment continues to grow. The Second Generation systems that have absorbed our attention during recent years will soon be commercial realities. In addition to these standard systems, we see an explosion of technical alternatives for meeting the demand for wireless communications. The debates about competing solutions to the same problem are a sign of the scientific and technical immaturity of our field. Here we have an application in search of technology rather than the reverse. This is a rare event in the information business. Happily, there is a growing awareness that we can act now to prevent the technology shortage from becoming more acute at the end of this decade. By then, market size and user expectations will surpass the capabilities of today's emerging systems. Third Generation Wireless Information Networks will place even greater burdens on technology than their ancestors. To discuss these issues, Rutgers University WINLAB plays host to a series of Workshops on Third Generation Wireless Information Networks. The first one, in 1989, had the flavor of a gathering of committed enthusiasts of an interesting niche of telephony. Presentations and discussions centered on the problems of existing cellular systems and technical alternatives to alleviating them. Although the more distant future was the announced theme of the Workshop, it drew only a fraction of our attention.

Future Directions

Wireless Communications

In October 1993, the Rutgers University Wireless Infonnation Network Laboratory hosted the fourth WINLAB Workshop on Third Generation Wireless Infonnation Networks. These events bring together a select group of experts interested in the long tenn future of Personal Communications, Mobile Computing, and other services supported by wireless telecommunications technology. This is a fast moving field and we already see, in present practice, realizations of visions articulated in the earlier Workshops. In particular, the second generation systems that absorbed the attention of the first WINLAB Workshop, are now commercial products. It is an interesting reflection on the state of knowledge of wireless communications that the debates about the relative technical merits of these systems have not yet been resolved. Meanwhile, in the light of United States Government announcements in September 1993 the business and technical communities must confront this year a new generation of Personal Communications Services. Here we have applications in search of the best technologies rather than the reverse. This is a rare situation in the infonnation business. Today's advanced planning and forward looking studies will prevent technology shortages and uncertainties at the end of this decade. By then, market size and public expectations will surpass the capabilities of the systems of the mid-1990's. Third Generation Wireless Infonnation Networks will place greater burdens on technology than their predecessors by offering a wider range of services and a higher degree of service integration.

Wireless and Mobile Communications

In April 1995, WINLAB (the Wireless Infonnation Network Lab oratory at Rutgers University) hosted the Fifth WINLAB Workshop on Third Generation Wireless Infonnation Networks. This workshop brings together a select group of experts interested in the future of Personal Communications, Mobile Computing and other services supported by wireless communications. As a sequel to Kluwer books on previous WINLAB workshops,l this volume assembles written versions of presentations of the Fifth Workshop. The last few years have been exciting for the field of wireless communications. The second generation systems that have absorbed our attention during those years are becoming commercial realities. Everyone is looking forward to PCS, especially in light of the recent auctions. We see an explosion of technical alternatives for meeting the demand for wireless communications. We also have applications in search of the best technologies rather than the reverse. The papers included provide new insights into many of the issues needing resolution for the successful introduction of the new services by the end of the decade. The authors represent views from both industry and universities from a number of nations. They are grouped into four main categories: Architecture, Radio Resource Management, Access, and Mobile Data, Mobile Networks.

Jack M. Holtzman

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