Have wireless, will travel

The Economist has a cogent article, Making Wi-Fi Pay, in the latest issue.

So is the stage set for a repeat of the boom in fixed-line Internet access? Not quite. One problem is that Wi-Fi networks rely on existing high-speed fixed connections to the Internet. Wi-Fi's future thus depends on cheap, ubiquitous broadband, which has yet to materialise. Furthermore, sharing a connection is frowned upon by broadband-service providers, though some providers are thinking of introducing pricing plans that explicitly allow connection-sharing over Wi-Fi. Another problem is that commercial use of unlicensed spectrum is prohibited in some countries.

The US is years behind the rest of the planet in wireless phone service so it's interesting to see the interest and the lag in Wi-Fi as well. It's curious to see the overnight popularity of wireless as I remember Negroponte lauding his wireless home nearly 5 years ago. Of course, the price for wireless technology then was exhorbitantly priced and now you can get a home wireless gateway for the price of dinner and a movie.

Cost drives the mass market and you have to ask if it can be profitable for the providers and still meet the almighty price point for the consumer.