Data Over Wireless Networks: Bluetooth, WAP, and Wireless LANs

Rating:
Summary: a waste of money and time
Review: According to its subtitle, this book covers Bluetooth, WAP and wireless LANs. In reality, each of these topics is contained in one short chapter. The last chapter (on wireless LANs) begins with the sentence "No book titled Data over Wireless Networks would be complete without considering wireless local-area networks..." -- absolutely true! But why does the author then go to great lengths describing voice-related mobile phone technologies (AMPS, D-AMPS, GSM, CDMA are all covered in separate chapters)? Another 2 chapters describe local multipoint distribution service and multichannel multipoint distribution service, topics that I cannot relate to the subject of the book. If you expect, like me, the book having some kind of software focus (remember, DATA over wireless networks), you don't get your money's worth. The back cover states: "Transmit data over wireless networks and develop cutting-edge applications with this hands-on reference. ... you will learn how to implement the latest protocols including WAP and Bluetooth." Well, not with this book! I know that it's hard to earn money as an author. Mr. Held seemingly wants to escape misery by publishing as many books on "hot" topics as his word processor is capable of (allegedly he has published 40+ books on computers and data communication). -- There are many good books on wireless communication, but this one is one of the worst I've come across.

Rating:
Summary: Where's the beef?
Review: As a mobile business solutions provider, I am amazed that Held fails to cover some of the leading networks for data applications. CDPD, Mobitex, Motient and satellite networks like OmniTracs have proven to have the most reliable, available coverage for data applications.

Rating:
Summary: Incomplete Network Coverage
Review: As a mobile business solutions provider, I am amazed that Held fails to cover some of the leading networks for data applications. CDPD, Mobitex, Motient and satellite networks like OmniTracs have proven to have the most reliable, available coverage for data applications.

Rating:
Summary: Where's the beef?
Review: My impression of the book is that it was rushed. The author seems to write "off the cuff." And it wasn't proof read very well, either. There are several glaring errors in the tables/figures early in the book. After seeing those, the whole work loses credibility. Another disappointment is the gloss over Bluetooth, though the title implies at least a serious introduction to the subject. I'm an engineer and what I do has to be right. It irks me when I waste time and money on a book which is produced in such a sloppy manner.

P.S. If you are interested in Bluetooth, "Bluetooth Revealed" is IMHO a helpful introduction.

Rating:
Summary: Mixed bag for those who want an introduction to wireless
Review: There is an important caveat for buyers of technology books: do not trust the sensational hype on the covers. Always read the book for yourself to see if it is what you really need. I think this sentiment has been neatly encapsulated in the previous review.

Despite the obvious disparity between what's advertised and the actual product, much of this book is still well-written and layman-friendly. This applies to most of the first half on mobile cellular technologies, especially the portions on framing and channel structures, and the protocol stacks. These impart a clear understanding of the subject matter without going through the tortuous jargon-laded explanations common in other books, particularly those by authors who are not too good at rephrasing material in the standards. The sections on WAP and WLAN are worth a read as well.

Unfortunately, the rest of the book seems to be a hotchpotch of facts hurriedly strung together to give volume. The sections on LMDS and MMDS are too brief to give adequate coverage in the first place, and though Bluetooth is meant to be a simple technology (relative to the rest of the wireless field), the length devoted to it is still incredibly short. It is also curious that 3G is only given cursory treatment (a few pages) despite the book being published only recently.

Where a good balance was struck between brevity, readibility and scope of coverage, the results were good, but if otherwise, such portions are just not worth the read. I found some parts useful, but definitely not all.

Rating:
Summary: Just the right stuff for novice technology enthusiasts
Review: This book is well written and interesting, provided you have some very basic knowledge about telecommunications and the jargon used. This book is good for you if you wanted one book which can describe all those wireless communications stuff and the latest emerging technologies in the field. For experts in the field this may not be so useful but if you are a novice to this field this book is a very safe bet.

Rating:
Summary: The Wireless Frontier
Review: This is a good introduction into the forthcoming or already arrived Wireless Revolution that would change how Human Beings live and work in this eerie World.Although I have found it interesting but the depth of every topic touched such as WAP, LMDS, CDMA, AMPS, or Wirless LAN is too shallow but this Book by Held is still worth reading and I would recommend it to anyone who has become attracted to the Wirless World such as Mobile Interent m-commece.