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Ya know, I had Sprint PCS's wireless Web access about a year ago. But the painfully slow connection speed rendered it grueling and practically useless, and I dropped it. For me, what I've used instead is HeyAnita, an 800-number service that dispenses sports scores (partial, even), weather information and news headlines. Call somebody? Yeah, how old-school. But I won't pay for a slow, text-only Web connection when, faster and for free, I can call a machine to read to me what I want to know.
(Aside: Now Sprint is pimping that PCS Vision, supposedly a new-and-improved, full-color version of their wireless Web access. It ain't worth it. I checked it out when the BF and I shopped for his cell phone. Still slooooowww as molasses. Wait for better technology to come around before shelling out another 10 to 20 bucks a month. For now, use yer cheaper Web-disabled phone to phone a friend and ask s/he what you need to know. Spare yourself from the squinting and thumb-twiddling.)
And then there's this:
Most readers of this column might be chained to their desks or leashed to their suite of office rooms. Their version of wireless is Wi-Fi, a technology that allows broadband but semi-mobile (i.e., don't leave the office or the coffee shop) wireless Internet access. They might not have noticed that hundreds of thousands of other people have begun using GPRS or CDMA2000 wireless Internet access. These are medium-band (56kbps to 144kbps) wireless packet switching networks that operate anywhere indoors or outdoors that GSM-frequency cellular phones do. The wireless devices using GPRS or CDMA2000 are mobile PDAs, laptops with cell modems, and cellular phones equipped for Internet access.
Don't I have enough toys? Nahhhh. I would love to have that handy during the 10-hour drive staring me in the face. Slower than wi-fi, but hey, you cantake it with you.