Multi-megabit network services are a key target in global multimedia communications for the 21st century. Semiconductor technologies have provided a fundamental and revolutionary basis for advanced network systems, and will continue to play a major role in future progress.
For nearly a century, wireline voice telephony has dominated network access. Regulation and new technologies are rapidly changing this picture. Today the fight for end-user access is between wireline and wireless cellular, reflecting the competitive battle between incumbents and new operators.
The global positioning system (GPS) provides location information that can be used in a range of location-aware applications. As the global mobile communications infrastructure evolves, location awareness will become an important attribute of the overall information infrastructure. It can enhance safety, security and convenience for consumers. The history of GPS and its evolution is covered, with a focus on the potential of GPS for mainstream consumer applications. In automobiles, GPS is used for navigation, security, emergency response, and fleet management. GPS can bring location awareness capabilities to cellular phones, pagers, PDAs and entertainment devices for applications such as child-locator systems, enhanced 911 cellular phones and personal navigator systems.
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