There is a lot of confusion where wireless networking is concerned. First, there are all the names: WiFi, WiMAX, Bluetooth, 3G, 802.11, 802.16 and more. What does it all mean?

In reality, the technologies are similar enough that they can work together as a whole, but specialized enough, to allow for distinction. In this article, I'll provide you with everything there is to know about wireless.

Bluetooth

Bluetooth is used to create a wireless personal area network (WPAN) using radio frequencies to transmit data, so distances must be relatively short so as not to disrupt broadcast frequencies.

You will find Bluetooth in many places that short data-transfer cables used to be. For example, in the past, if you wanted to synchronize the contacts and appointments on your mobile phone or device, you would have hooked up a serial or USB cable between your computer and the device. With Bluetooth, simply moving your device close to the computer is good enough. The Bluetooth chip in the device announces its presence by a signal received by the Bluetooth-enabled computer. In many cases, synchronization happens automatically.

Other common uses for Bluetooth include:

• Sending audio information between a phone and a wireless headset
• Wireless keyboards, mice, printers and writing tablets
• Connecting your cell phone to your car

Depending on the distance required, Bluetooth may have an effective range of less than 3 feet (Class 3), up to 32 feet (Class 2), or up to 328 feet (Class 1). The older version 1.2 specification allows for data transfers of up to 1 megabit per second, while the newer 2.0 specification has three times the speed. This means an MP3 file 4.5 MB in size would take roughly 35 seconds to transfer via Bluetooth 1.2, but only 11-12 seconds via Bluetooth 2.

WiFi

The next step up the wireless ladder is WiFi, a standard (you'll see it listed on hardware as 802.11a, 802.11b, 802.11g and 802.11n) for setting up wireless local area networks (WLANs).

If you have ever set up a home network using a wireless router, or if your office has wireless networking, you've probably used WiFi. Likewise, if you've ever been in an airport, coffee shop, library or restaurant that advertised a Web access "hot spot," then you've also used WiFi. For more on finding a hotspot, read our article "Connect to a Wireless Hotspot".

One big difference between Bluetooth and WiFi is that WiFi allows for multiple connections at once. In this way, a single wireless hub can support numerous connections.

Compared with Bluetooth, WiFi has dramatically increased range. Indoors, a standard wireless router can reach up to 125 feet, while outdoors the same router can reach up to 300 feet. With the addition of a booster or powered antenna, much greater reach is possible.

WiFi speed also is much increased over Bluetooth, although it does vary by the exact 802.11 protocol used. The older 802.11a protocol, for example, can reach a speed of 54 Mbits for the entire network, while the scaled-back 802.11b protocol (with larger area coverage) tops out at 11 Mbits. The newest WiFi protocall 802.11n offers 300 Mbits, and coverage that is more than double over previous generations.

3G

3G, which stands for 3rd Generation, is the newest mobile phone protocol. Allowing for the current lineup of smart phones or multimedia devices, 3G is part of the cellular network, but with additional Web and video access capabilities.

Far from being simply a higher quality cellular protocol, 3G's speeds make it perfect for transmitting audio, video and other large, high-bandwidth files.

WiMAX

WiMAX, which stands for worldwide Interoperability for microwave access, is the latest wireless protocol. Based on the 802.16 wireless broadband access protocol, it does for Web users what cell phone technology did for phone subscribers. A subscriber in a city such as Portland, Oregon or Baltimore, Maryland where WiMAX is currently available can open their computer virtually anywhere in the metro area and have instant access to the Internet. Using WiMAX eliminates the need for someone to find a local hotspot, and because it covers such large distances (up to 31 miles), subscribers can actually access the Internet while commuting into work on the train or riding in a car.

WiMAX has been used (both after Hurricane Katrina in America and the tsunami in Indonesia) to provide widespread backup communication service and is being rolled out steadily as a consumer product in the US and aboard.

It's this last bit that has many people excited. Far from being the limited WiFi with area coverage measured in feet, WiMAX can deliver content across a vast area, and at great speeds.

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Content by Eric Fleming.