America Online...literally.

I’ve been talking the last few times about improving the hardware we use to communicate in the mobile world, but I haven’t talked too much about how to improve the speed at which we communicate. I know I promised to talk about streaming media and games, but before I do that I want to introduce the method in which we can. Today’s blog will be focusing on speeding up the way we connect to each.

Currently, one of the most popular ways to connect to each other is by cellular devices. This typically includes paying a fee to your mobile provider to connect to the web. I’ve been using the Sprint PCS network for a good while now and while I’m happy with it, my wallet isn’t. It is terribly expensive to access the internet on a phone plan. I pay around $25 a month for the ability to do so. Other cellular phone companies, like T-Mobile and Verizon, offer similar packages for their internet access. Let’s not forget to mention how painfully slow these can be. If I try to access a website with more than two pictures on it, it can take upwards of a minute to load completely. What a waste of my time.

But is this enough? In a world where everyone seems like they’re in a rush and don’t have the time to wait for a cell phone to download at a rate most 14.4kbps modems could crush, can’t we have anything better?

How about a system that allows anyone, anywhere, to connect to the internet at blazing fast speeds. It doesn’t matter if it’s a laptop, a cell phone, or a GameBoy.

Now, I’m sure you have all been to a Starbucks or a Barnes & Noble store where you were given the opportunity to take your laptop and sign online using their Wi-Fi network. Even McDonalds restaurants allow Nintendo DS owners to connect online and play against eachother. My new laptop even came with a sticker on the keyboard advertising the ability to use T-Mobile’s Wi-Fi hotspots.

Now picture this on a grand scale.

Read about WiMAX here: http://www.wimaxforum.org. What a tremendously ambitious project. They set out to create wireless hotspots throughout entire cities. If this project continues to hook up cities across the country, it would provide a quick, affordable, and highly applicable technology for us to take advantage of. Everyone will have the ability to communicate at extremely fast speeds with the equipment they already have. Because WiMAX uses existing wireless standards, there is no need to go out and buy brand new and costly equipment to use it.

The city of Philadelphia recently decided to log their city online. Check it out here: http://www.gcn.com/print/24_6/35315-1.html. Philly now joins a list of other major cities who plan on providing its citizens with either cheap or free wireless internet access. Although there are some hurdles left to clear, it’s pretty obvious that wireless internet will soon be available to everyone around the country.

That’s a pretty sweet deal if you ask me.

Adios.