Even here in California, the buzz from Telecom '99 in Geneva was loud and clear: "the wireless internet has arrived". All manner of handheld devices and smart phones were being shown off at the massive trade show, we heard.
Larry Ellison, of Oracle, said Europe would lead in this next phase of Internet development, because the cell phone networks "over there" were more sophisticated than the older ones we put up with here in the US. Bill Gates, for once, seemed to agree with his nemesis that wireless was the way to go.
But before we get too steamed up about the prospects for wireless Internet access, it is worth considering what these wireless Internet services might be, and how they may be used.
The display capabilities of phones, and even of a handheld device such as the PalmPilot, are limited. One cannot imagine, for example, reading a page of text on the pint-sized display of a cellular phone. Clearly, therefore, much of the content of the Web will not be well suited to these new services.
News headlines, sports scores and stock prices, on the other hand, might well be delivered to your phone. But this is hardly a great leap forward. Similar services already exist. Then there is the question of how wireless web services will be used. The important attribute of cellular phones is that they are mobile. Similarly, handheld computers are designed for use by people on the go.
So, if you are on your way to work, how will you use a wireless Internet connection? For the Californian commuter rolling down the freeway, a service that displays text on a small screen is hardly a safe option. Londoners riding the train might be tempted to read from a wireless electronic gadget rather than a newspaper if they like to skim the headlines. But forget about pictures and more lengthy accounts of the news.
Weather may also be a factor. If you have ever tried to use a notebook computer out of doors, you know that the display must be shaded from the sun to be readable. So, all in all, I am inclined to believe that wireless Internet access will be a big success in cloudy regions where people use public transport. The rest of us might do better to turn on the old-fashioned "wireless" in our cars.
But before I am accused of being a cynic, I would add one caveat. Voice-activated wireless Internet information services that deliver audio information may well have great potential.