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Beyond Everywhere: How Wi-Fi Became the World's Most Beloved Technology
The fascinating international story of the people who created Wi-Fi, their early battles against skeptical opponents, and how it ultimately exploded across the globe to become synonymous with the internet itself—as told by one of Wi-Fi’s central figures.
Eighteen billion Wi-Fi devices are in use around the world, with four billion more added every year. Connecting everyone to everything, it is central to our lives today. How did this happen? Beyond Everywhere is the surprising story in its the techno/political conflicts at its birth, the battles against competing technologies as it was being nurtured, and the international diplomatic intrigue as it spread across the planet. This vivid narrative about the people who gave Wi-Fi to the world is told with humor, insight, and charm by one of Wi-Fi’s key developers.
“Whether you are a fan of technology or simply a fan of great storytelling, you will be captivated by Beyond Everywhere , the heretofore untold story of how the fundamental Wi-Fi connectivity we all rely on came to be. Because of his unique and longstanding position at the very center of the Wi-Fi world, there is no one better than Greg Ennis to tell this dramatic tale. Now synonymous with the internet itself—and with billions of users—the Wi-Fi story has finally been told.”
—Edgar Figueroa, President and CEO, Wi-Fi Alliance
Eighteen billion Wi-Fi devices are in use around the world, with four billion more added every year. Connecting everyone to everything, it is central to our lives today. How did this happen? Beyond Everywhere is the surprising story in its the techno/political conflicts at its birth, the battles against competing technologies as it was being nurtured, and the international diplomatic intrigue as it spread across the planet. This vivid narrative about the people who gave Wi-Fi to the world is told with humor, insight, and charm by one of Wi-Fi’s key developers.
“Whether you are a fan of technology or simply a fan of great storytelling, you will be captivated by Beyond Everywhere , the heretofore untold story of how the fundamental Wi-Fi connectivity we all rely on came to be. Because of his unique and longstanding position at the very center of the Wi-Fi world, there is no one better than Greg Ennis to tell this dramatic tale. Now synonymous with the internet itself—and with billions of users—the Wi-Fi story has finally been told.”
—Edgar Figueroa, President and CEO, Wi-Fi Alliance
- GenresNonfiction
432 pages, Hardcover
Published July 18, 2023
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
June 25, 2024
Very good and unique book on the history of Wi-Fi.
The book offers a very good view on the initial development of today's Wi-Fi technology as well as the critical challenges encountered especially on its first 8-10 years from one of the key figures of Wi-Fi's development as a fist-hand narration. Gives a very good insight on how such telco technologies are being developed and deployed. Strongly recommended from anybody who wants to learn about the story of Wi-Fi. Do not be alarmed, the book is not filled up with very detailed technical content.
As for wireless communication specialists, the book simply is a gem that gives such valuable insights on why and how various components of a technology as prevalent as Wi-Fi has been developed. How inter-company politics come into play in shaping such technologies (and how some such technologies simply die e.g. HomeRF). The part regarding IEEE 802.11b's PHY layer was extremely captivating.
Aside from its value and uniqueness, I just felt that the book is written mainly from Mr. Ennis's personal POV mixed up with meeting minutes from critical Wi-Fi Alliance, IEEE and such meetings. I guess the book could have benefited from having POVs from some other key people in this Wi-Fi story. Also, from time to time, it felt like Wi-Fi is the "good technology" and the other potential competitors (HomeRF, China's WAPI, later ZigBee) are the "bad technologies". I mean there are good arguments in the book on why having a multitude of technologies would have been bad but I felt the underlying feeling is simply because the author is one of the key people of WFA. I guess these parts could have been explained a bit more technically.
A few final nitpick for me
a) The time between the original IEEE 802.11 standardization and the super interesting part regarding IEEE 802.11b standardization effort felt a bit "what happened within these lots of years?"
b) The immensely important QoS amendment, IEEE 802.11e, is completely omitted.
The book offers a very good view on the initial development of today's Wi-Fi technology as well as the critical challenges encountered especially on its first 8-10 years from one of the key figures of Wi-Fi's development as a fist-hand narration. Gives a very good insight on how such telco technologies are being developed and deployed. Strongly recommended from anybody who wants to learn about the story of Wi-Fi. Do not be alarmed, the book is not filled up with very detailed technical content.
As for wireless communication specialists, the book simply is a gem that gives such valuable insights on why and how various components of a technology as prevalent as Wi-Fi has been developed. How inter-company politics come into play in shaping such technologies (and how some such technologies simply die e.g. HomeRF). The part regarding IEEE 802.11b's PHY layer was extremely captivating.
Aside from its value and uniqueness, I just felt that the book is written mainly from Mr. Ennis's personal POV mixed up with meeting minutes from critical Wi-Fi Alliance, IEEE and such meetings. I guess the book could have benefited from having POVs from some other key people in this Wi-Fi story. Also, from time to time, it felt like Wi-Fi is the "good technology" and the other potential competitors (HomeRF, China's WAPI, later ZigBee) are the "bad technologies". I mean there are good arguments in the book on why having a multitude of technologies would have been bad but I felt the underlying feeling is simply because the author is one of the key people of WFA. I guess these parts could have been explained a bit more technically.
A few final nitpick for me
a) The time between the original IEEE 802.11 standardization and the super interesting part regarding IEEE 802.11b standardization effort felt a bit "what happened within these lots of years?"
b) The immensely important QoS amendment, IEEE 802.11e, is completely omitted.
August 18, 2024
It's an interesting book, but it's important to be aware that this is a POLITICAL book, it's not a technical book. It's a non-stop discussion of the politics of first IEEE 802.11 and then WiFi; and it handles those very well. it explains not just the company machinations but also, for example why the WiFi Alliance exists as a separate organization, and the split in responsibilities between the WiFi Alliance and IEEE 802.11.
However, disappointingly, there is basically zero technology discussion. You will not see the word MIMO ever. There is a one sentence (justified) mocking of the claims of the Australian press that the Australian CSIRO "invented" WiFi, but zero discussion of the technical elements of this claim. Even the issue of IoT/Home Automation (use of WiFi vs ZigBee) is discussed purely in political terms with no mention of the technical arguments on each side.
So, yeah, definitely an interesting read. If you've been following this tech for the past 25 years (or more) since Steve Jobs' first WiFi/Airport demonstration you'll be reminded of many of the issues along the way, along with explanations of how they ultimately shook out in a way that may have seemed puzzling at the time. Just don't expect to see ANY discussion of why any particular tech choice was made at any particular meeting.
However, disappointingly, there is basically zero technology discussion. You will not see the word MIMO ever. There is a one sentence (justified) mocking of the claims of the Australian press that the Australian CSIRO "invented" WiFi, but zero discussion of the technical elements of this claim. Even the issue of IoT/Home Automation (use of WiFi vs ZigBee) is discussed purely in political terms with no mention of the technical arguments on each side.
So, yeah, definitely an interesting read. If you've been following this tech for the past 25 years (or more) since Steve Jobs' first WiFi/Airport demonstration you'll be reminded of many of the issues along the way, along with explanations of how they ultimately shook out in a way that may have seemed puzzling at the time. Just don't expect to see ANY discussion of why any particular tech choice was made at any particular meeting.
August 7, 2023
OK, as a Wi-Fi researcher/lecturer and IEEE 802.11 member I'm totally biased in reviewing this book! Perhaps it's not a non-fiction book that literally everyone should read, but if you're interested in technology, this book provides a behind-the-scenes look at the development of Wi-Fi. I particularly enjoyed the emphasis the author put on everything that lead to today's ubiquity of Wi-Fi (which we can easily take for granted). After reading this book, I'm an even greater fan of Wi-Fi!
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews