When the economy was roaring along, such advances seemed to be heading for the mainstream. But, the wireless industry has taken a few steps back.

There has been a noticeable mood shift toward getting existing technologies to work, rather than driving innovations to market. Still, there are a number of technologies in the pipeline that promise to take wireless to another level.

Fast Forward

Forrester Research senior analyst Charles Golvin says that one technology getting a decent amount of attention right now is wireless home networking.

As expected, users are taking advantage of WLANs (wireless local area networks) to link multiple computers together in the same home. What is stirring up excitement, though, is a new WLAN standard -- 802.11a -- that can handle much more.

Golvin told Wireless NewsFactor the 802.11a wireless networking standard can handle communication at a rate as high as 54 Mbps -- nearly five times as fast as the Wi-Fi (802.11b) standard that already is popular for wireless broadband access. This speed and capacity opens up the door to new possibilities for home networking.

No More Tangles

With the speed and capacity that comes with 802.11a, wires behind the entertainment center could become a thing of the past.

A DVD player would be able to send a digital video image to a TV in one room -- or to TVs in three other rooms -- using radio frequency (RF). Other appliances could be linked to a central server in the home, as well.

"The issue isn't speed, it's capacity," Golvin said.

Target Practice

Location-based services also fall into the category of wireless applications that have not yet reached the mass market, but are still considered hot. Using A-GPS (assisted global positioning system), a number of wireless carriers are rolling out networks that can pinpoint the exact location of a mobile phone.

Carriers and device makers are pitching these services both to end-users and new business partners. Marketing tactics will take on a new dimension when a retailer can opt to advertise not only to customers who are physically near one of its stores, but also to customers passing a competitor's location.

On the Road

This type of wireless service already is in use in Japan. Mobile operator KDDI has launched a navigation system based on the A-GPS service that displays directions to a specific store on color-screen handsets.

Aberdeen analyst Isaac Ro told Wireless NewsFactor that many of the new technologies that are being hyped for wireless will first make a debut in Asia -- specifically, Japan.

Fashion Police

Though they might seem futuristic to some, wearable computers are on the horizon. Gartner analyst Phil Redman told Wireless NewsFactor that in addition to wristwatch-type devices, the possibilities include other jewelry, badges and even clothing.

One commercial implementation of the wearable computer already is being used by major league baseball team the Toronto Blue Jays to sell tickets to patrons in the stadium parking lot.

In Style

Developments in Bluetooth technology could promote the everyday use of wearable devices. Bluetooth headsets that allow users to chat on a mobile phone without dealing with connecting wires are already on the market.

Redman said the potential for wearable applications is high, but said technology developments will have to reach "commercial-class service levels in form, function and fit."