seamless roaming between 802.11 and other wireless networks

[jabalbaba]

Need help in understanding how the interface works between 802.11 wireless lans and other wireless networks. To be more specific, If i am browsing the web on my Cell/PDA/tablet PC/laptop etc and as I enter a 802.11 wireless Lan equipped building or hot spot, that I do not want to turnoff my PDA etc and relogin for the 802.11 wireless LAN.

any help in links, standards, whitepapers etc would be appreciated

TIA

[JimGeier]

There are no standards for this. Everything so far is proprietary and requires special client software on the user device to make it work. Companies such as Netmotion have solutions, but both the cellular company and wlan hotspot WISP need interconnectivity, agreements, etc. Widespread seamless roaming between cellular and 802.11 is years away.

[umqombothi]

Mobile IP - at IP layer??

Hey Jim,

But surely if you have Mobile IP client software on the user device (eg PDA with GSM and Wifi connections) this would allow you to roam between a Wifi network and a cellular zone? With no changes needed at network level or indeed permission from the cellular carrier?

The software would be operating at the IP layer and it wouldn't really matter what the underlying network connection is? If you have a cellular account with the NO and a Wifi account with the WISP then wouldn't intelligent Mobile IP client software allow you to handoff between the different connections without losing your session?

One company says their solution does exactly this. ie provides a seamless handoff between any WAN networks (GPRS, 3G etc) and wifi/ BT etc.

Or am I missing something here?

Umq.