Today's Fierce Wireless Daily Monitor e-newsletter reports that a number of industry experts believe that five of the leading short-range wireless technologies—WiFi, ZigBee, Ultrawideband (UWB), Bluetooth, and Near Field Communications (NFC)—will eventually combine into one giant network system that will allow both businesses and consumers to set up their own wireless network applications.

So that we're clear, here's a brief description of each of the five technologies, courtesy of Fierce Wireless:

WiFi — WiFi, or WLAN, uses the 802.11-family of wireless technologies to create Wireless Local Area Networks (WLANs). While this technology was developed to replace wired Ethernet, is rapidly evolving into a wireless broadband solution as well. Advantages: High-data speeds and rapid deployment. This technology is already a market reality. Disadvantages: Limited range, channel interference issues, and not necessarily well-suited for smaller, personalized networks or for wider-range networks.

ZigBee — Low power, Low Rate Wireless Personal Area Networking (LR-WPAN) technology designed for wireless automation and other lower data tasks, such as smart home automation and remote monitoring. Advantages: Low power consumption, reliable, relative cheap equipment costs. Disadvantages: Low bandwidth (usually under 250 Kbps) limits the number of applications.

Ultrawideband (UWB) — UWB is a high-speed wireless networking technology designed as a cable replacement for high-bandwidth tasks, such as connecting TVs, stereos, and other media appliances. Advantages: High bandwidth data speeds (up to 1 Gbps) and versatile application set (can be used to network media devices and PCs). Disadvantages: Very limited range and possible spectrum interference issues.

Bluetooth — Bluetooth is the "original" Personal Area Networking (PAN) technology. It was designed to allow different devices to connect with each other, such as file sharing between cell phones or wireless printing from a handheld or a PC. Advantages: Well-defined technology with industry-wide support. Disadvantages: Somewhat expensive. It may be eventually squeezed our by ZigBee for low bandwidth applications and by Ultrawideband for file sharing and streaming media.

Near Field Communications (NFC) — NFC is a wireless PAN technology designed for secure, wireless contactless payments (think of using your cell phone as a wireless debit card). Advantages: Relatively inexpensive and secure. Disadvantages: Very low range and a limited set of applications.