"Wi-Fi" is a type of wireless networking protocol that allows devices to communicate without cords or cables.
1: Wi-fi uses antennas around which wi-fi "hotspots" are created. Until recently, wi-fi has been confined to more than 10,000 hot-spots in cafes, bars and airport lounges. But various projects are under way to set up city-wide zones, where a series of antennas are installed in the streets
, on lampposts or street signs. The hotspots around them together create a much wider area of coverage. Norwich has a mesh network which links each lamppost antenna to the next creating a seamless wi-fi hotspot around the center of the city.
2: The source internet connection is provided by a PC or server to which the antennas are connected either wirelessly or via a cable.
3: Some mobile phones and personal digital assistants (PDA) now have wi-fi chips installed. With mobile phones, this means conventional networks can be bypassed and inexpensive long-distance calls made over the web (using Voice over Internet Protocol, VoIP).
4: Many laptops and handheld computers now come with built-in wi-fi connectivity; it is also possible to add wi-fi to your computer with a special card that plugs into a port on your laptop. Some organizations provide it for free but maximums provide it for business purpose only.
