January 21, 2004
The Explosion of Wi-Fi
Wi-Fi (802.11-based wireless networking) is exploding. Everybody from McDonald's to Starbucks are providing wireless Internet via Wi-Fi. It's not just the US, either. Gizmodo is reporting that the UK sandwich chain Benugo is starting to do the Wi-Fi thing as well, giving away Palm Tungsten C wireless PDAs as part of the promotion.
Just today at lunch, I noticed that the local Bruegger's Bagels eatery had a little sticker on the door for Surf and Sip, a relatively new paid Wi-Fi hotspot service.
Where will it end? Well, actually, I hope it doesn't. Wi-Fi could be the next great technology that permits ubiquitous, cheap, and fast Internet access for the masses. Cellular technologies have great coverage, but the infrastructure is really expensive. Contrast that with the idea of making every PC a wireless access point, and you start seeing the potential.
Posted by Craig | PermalinkOr it could go kaboom. And I think that's the route it'll take--commercially--unless prices start coming down, and you either get consolidation among the carriers or "time sharing" relationships (so you don't need to subscribe, for example, to both the Starbuck's carrier and the McDonald's carrier).
On the other hand, in the home, in the office, in the public library, it'll do quite well.
Hopefully where it's present in public parks and other spaces, it'll continue and grow. Hopefully that won't be the first thing cut when things get tight.
Posted by Fred Kiesche at January 21, 2004 05:20 PMTo leave a comment or read updated entries, please visit GearBits' current site. Thanks.