This study looks at pervasive networks, a ubiquitous “fabric” of computing, information, entertainment, and telemetry capability all tied together by high‑speed wired and wireless networks.  Our concept of pervasive networks takes the “anytime, anywhere” concept of mobility to its logical end—“all the time, everywhere.”  In other words, users that move within a pervasive network will be able to receive and send information through a variety of applications and devices, depending on the communications environment (private or public network, operating frequency, mobility speeds, application requirements, device requirements, etc.).  While carriers do not offer this type of continuous communication today, the piece parts are already in place, or will soon be.  This study attempts to look at the confluence of wireline and wireless developments and quantify the opportunity for the carrier community when these two domains merge.  Table I-1 summarizes the forces at work driving the adoption of pervasive networking.   

Table I-1         Changes Driving Pervasive Networking and Computing

 Source:  Jim Herman, “Global Value Webs”, Supply Chain Review, July 2002 

Services from pervasive networks will truly enhance our way of life, providing the right information for the context that a user is in.  First, pervasive services will enable easy access to information from the workplace or home in a secure fashion.  The pervasive network will be able to adapt to the kind of device the user has to connect to the network.  The network should be connected to the user’s “presence,” enabling a connection with that user on a device of his or her choice.  

In the work environment, pervasive applications are driven by the need to extend the network out to field employees in order to provide secure access to corporate data.  Employees that are in the field or on business trips require the ability to access information residing in the corporate office—including reports, live product inventories and prices, and up-to-date financial data.  With the information residing on corporate Intranets, the mobile employee can easily access the necessary data through a wireless Internet connection. 

 In the personal environment, many people want to be entertained at the time and place of their choosing.  As a result, they are seeking entertainment applications on the cell phones, laptops, and personal digital assistants (PDAs) that they carry around.  In the home, they want to be able to connect their consumer electronics devices together to build PC‑to-PC networks and PC-to-stereo wireless connections, as well as remotely control appliances and home security devices.  In the home, we will see a proliferation of electronic devices that can be tied in to the network for remote operations.   

Despite the differences between business and residential applications, successful implementations of pervasive-enabled services that will serve us in each area do indeed share some important characteristics: 

• The pervasive applications must suit the environment, which may require........

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