h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Okay, here's something freaky for you. A few issues ago I reported on the prospects of a national wireless broadband service that could well be part of the future of computing. Head in the clouds? No.

Reading through slashdot.com as I tend to do occasionally I found a link back to the bbc news pages for Wales and this article... http://news.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/uk/wales/newsid_2071000/2071601.stm in which the bbc break the news that bt are about to test a broadband wireless internet service. Coincidence? I wonder if anyone in the bbc news rooms reads the Post?

Pity to rain on their parade, but the technology is also being developed at the moment to build a slot in card for laptops that allows the user to hook into any wireless network. Origianally this was being built by hackers to allow them to drive around large industrial and commercial areas with an almost free passport to any corporate intranet.

Just remember you read it in the h2g2 Post first, and probably bbc news in a month

The wireless network thing is a great concept, but it's rather useless as a practical matter right now. There is no standard wireless protocol. You spend far more time fiddling with settings than it's worth for most users. It's a concept that can only appeal to hackers who see incredible value in connections that can't be tracked, because the usability is close to zero.

You're also unlikely to find consistent coverage even in highly populated areas like London. Corporations still don't support wireless networking as a matter of course. Most still hardwire their offices, leaving no access for laptops passing by outside. You'll be lucky to find any coverage at all in suburban or rural areas.

In 10-20 years, I imagine wireless "freeloading" will be a serious possibility. By then, it will probably have a much spiffier name and corporations will have some reassurance that they can host the public without being hacked. By that time, high speed cable and DSL access will have long become the internet standard. But hey, that's just my opinion.