Public wireless Internet access raises questions

[JTMoney]

I think it is a simple matter of cost.

Corporations own the internet. The internet is not free, not any longer. Those corporations have shareholders. Those shareholders demand a return.

Thus, the corporations must charge for what they own. As soon as someone charges, someone else will charge more and eventually the end user is required to pay. Its basically a tax.

As long as a corporation must sell, people must buy. Buying gives people pause, especially in a scenario where they are already paying for a lot of stuff: cell phone, broadband, memberships at various websites, etc.

The technology is there, but as long as people see it as a cost, it will never take off.

Wireless internet needs to be like TV and radio...free. Yes, it's a scary thought to all of the MBA dweebs out there, but that's essentially what needs to happen. Either that, or someone figures out how to combine everything into one megaservice: cell phone, broadband, the works.

JT$

[whatsurpointnow]

Great thread!

This hits my point directly....until the consumers BELIEVE that it is secure, it is a medium that will take a while to become a predominant player in the marketplace for things other than internet browsing. Don't get me wrong, I am as excited as anyone about the potential, but there are many out there who do not feel the same as me.

Duckman, makes me think of all the wags throughout history, That wheel thing will never work, automobiles will never be big; to dangerous, heavery than air vehicles will never fly, why would anyone in New York want to talk to some one in Boston? 640k of ram is more than anyone will ever need.

Your right, the perception of safety will have to be built and at some point guaranteed at least for premium users. The credit card companies are doing that now. Eventually we will need some sort of ironclad identification system so fraud is more difficult to perpetrate.

Wireless internet needs to be like TV and radio...free. Yes, it's a scary thought to all of the MBA dweebs out there, but that's essentially what needs to happen. Either that, or someone figures out how to combine everything into one megaservice: cell phone, broadband, the works.

JT$ radio, TV, the Web, Newspapers, etc. none of these are free. We "pay" for them by being subjected to advertising. I can see free wireless phone service in the future. "we interupt your call to bring you this important message from Bill Gates-have you registered your copy of Longhorn? Failure to do so can result in civil penalties, criminal prosecution and bad Breath!",Now what were you saying honey? perhaps banner ads around the top 1/3 of my pda screen? or maybe we will be using those ultra cool glasses that can write directly to the eye.
Personally, I think the future will look towards a personalized integrated communication/conectivity/computing solution. at the plebicite end, we could have federally mandated minimum access standards with few features and slow connections at the high end,hmmm, perhaps personalized embeded hardware with direct neural connections and seamless connection speeds.

Yeah Baby! Cant wait! Especially for the feature that allows me to anonamize myself near the prurient.....not that I would ever go there.