But mobile communications systems have no such luck. The loss of signal strength when the receiving antenna is someplace the transmitter's signals have trouble reaching. Finally, support for mobility requires broad coverage. Nevertheless, we still live with the familiar indications of no service, system busy and dropped calls. While the core technology is sophisticated, the primary system elements required to justify investments in development have now emerged.
Many services can nonetheless offer reasonable coverage, roaming and affordable prices.
While Web access and data communications are possible over today's wireless networks, at least to a limited degree, their use can be painful in practice. For example, dialup access via cell phones with appropriate modems can work, but is often slow and relatively expensive. Some carriers will deploy IS-95B in 2000. These services are already being tested in Europe, but it's unclear when or even if North American operators using GSM on PCS frequencies will adopt them. As a result, carriers won't move in lock-step toward these capabilities.