Abstract—The world of wireless telecommunications is rapidly evolving. Technologies under research and development promise to deliver more services to more users in less time. This paper presents the emerging technologies helping wireless systems grow from where we are today into our visions of the future. This paper will cover the applications and characteristics of emerging wireless technologies: Wireless Local Area Networks (WiFi-802.11n), Wireless Personal Area Networks (ZigBee) and Wireless Metropolitan Area Networks (WiMAX). The purpose of this paper is to explain the impending 802.11n standard and how it will enable WLANs to support emerging media-rich applications. The paper will also detail how 802.11n compares with existing WLAN standards and offer strategies for users considering higher-bandwidth alternatives. The emerging IEEE 802.15.4 (ZigBee) standard aims to provide low data rate wireless communications with high-precision ranging and localization, by employing UWB technologies for a low-power and low cost solution. WiMAX (Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access) is a standard for wireless data transmission covering a range similar to cellular phone towers. With high performance in both distance and throughput, WiMAX technology could be a boon to current Internet providers seeking to become the leader of next generation wireless Internet access. This paper also explores how these emerging technologies differ from one another. Keywords—MIMO technology, WiFi, WiMAX, ZigBee. I. INTRODUCTION HE first thing an investor needs to determine is what is truly an emerging technology. For the investor, an emerging technology is one that offers a relatively undiscovered method to solve a daunting wireless problem in a cost-effective way. The methods or technology itself may be non-conventional, but emerging technologies that become mainstream are typically more evolutionary than revolutionary. This is because a technology cannot succeed by itself – it must bring the whole sector with it. This paper presents an overview survey of emerging wireless technologies – 802.11n, 802.15.4 and 802.16. 802.11n is a recent extension of the popular 802.11a/b/g technology known as WiFi. UWB on the other hand is standardized as IEEE 802.15.4 for low power, low-data rate applications. This technology innovation called ZigBee will make it possible to remotely monitor various types of sensors-for air- conditioning, lighting, smoke alarms, and many more. “The Manuscript received on November 30, 2006. All authors are with Department of Computer Science & Engineering, Guru Nanak Dev University, Amritsar, India (e-mails: bhavneet_sidhu@yahoo.co.in, hardeep_gndu@rediffmail.com, chhabra_amit78@yahoo.com). next big thing” predicted in wireless access is the introduction of large Broadband Fixed Wireless Access cells using technologies such as WiMAX. Fig. 1 Types of wireless access In effect, most of these wireless technologies will not be islands in themselves, but will offer some interconnectivity between each other. All this will just help in creating a perfectly connected environment. So just think of it-the weather, temperature and other information is being communicated by tiny sensors based on ZigBee, passing data over radio waves from one to another. At the end of the line, the data is picked up by hotspots created by WiMAX or WiFi. All these innovations are not a shot in the dark. Work is happening on most of these technologies to bring out applications so that they really help everyone stay connected. Some of the technologies are already available, while others might be available towards the end of this year or the beginning of the next year. Various wireless network technology options are shown in Fig. 1. In the pages to follow, we will look at these wireless technologies and the applications they promise to make possible. II. WI-FI (WIRELESS FIDELITY) – 802.11N Demand for wireless LAN hardware has experienced phenomenal growth during the past several years, evolving quickly from novelty into necessity. Wi-Fi technology is most commonly found in notebook computers and Internet access devices such as routers and DSL or cable modems. The growing pervasiveness of Wi-Fi is helping to extend the technology beyond the PC and into consumer electronics applications like Internet telephony, music streaming, gaming, and even photo viewing and in-home video transmission. Emerging Wireless Standards - WiFi, ZigBee and WiMAX Bhavneet Sidhu, Hardeep Singh, and Amit Chhabra T Metropolitan Area Network 802.16 WiMAX Local Area Network 802.11 WiFi Personal Area Network 802.15.4 ZigBee World Academy of Science, Engineering and Technology International Journal of Electronics and Communication Engineering Vol:1, No:1, 2007 43 International Scholarly and Scientific Research & Innovation 1(1) 2007 ISNI:0000000091950263 Open Science Index, Electronics and Communication Engineering Vol:1, No:1, 2007 publications.waset.org/11360/pdf