Wireless trends and compliance considerations

The proliferation of cell phones, tablets, eReaders, and other wireless devices marks a significant trend in the telecommunications industry. Tablet PCs and eReaders were created with wireless connectivity as a key feature. The growth in wireless is not limited to just new product categories. Legacy products have benefited as well. Convergent technologies have emerged where devices that historically contained no radios, now have three, four, and even five different radio modules. Market forces dictate "cable replacement" strategies such as Bluetooth®and ZigBee™ on more and more products. The desire for internet connection "anytime - anywhere" has spurred cellular carriers to shift their services from voice-only networks to more data-centric services. Novel antenna technologies such as MIMO have increased data rates while improving coverage. This article discusses some important trends in wireless as well as key strategies that product developers can use to successfully address the EMC regulatory requirements for their wireless devices.