. Nothing quite like taking the train while connected via "pervasive Dial-up", otherwise known as the Verizon Express Network. Cruising up on Amtrak north from San Diego in the morning, latte on the right and laptop (and view of the ocean) on the left is a great experience. But wait, there's more...a 120 volt power jack on the train wall! somebody's thinking!

Well, on an unrelated note, the FCC released a report along the "cutting the cord" line that reflected less a migration from wireline to wireless but a downright stampede. Of course bankrupt company Leap Wireless, one of the first with a cheap unlimited plan noticed this among their subs years ago. Now that virtually everybody has a digital mobile phone (as opposed to an older analog one) that will push the trend further, faster. Who wants to cut the phone cord if it's still necessary to be connected to a power cord?

Now, what does this say about pervasive broadband? It says - it's just a matter of time. Dell's deal with T-mobile is the first of many that will link the only existing dominant product, the laptop, pervasively.

Finally, it's great to see more and more use of RFID. This "smart" technology can do everything from help with EZpass sceenarios to inventory tracking. Yea, I know, it's yet another invasion of privacy. But so much activity is hampered by the small fraction of people that exploit liberty for their own advantage. RFID basically is like an RF "reflector" that does not need batteries and can provide a serial number in the reflection of the radio signal. If only location technology can grow a bit faster...

Broadband over power lines is an idea, like broadband from blimps: it's been around a long time, but never seem to fly. One company, Main.net, is pushing this still..but it remains to be seen if sustain more than a niche market. last time I looked at this it would be too expensive in single-tennant dwellings with 1 transformer/home (i.e. the United States), but had limited potential in Europe and Asia, or perhaps the mideast, where there were far more multi-tennant dwellings served by a single transfomer. good luck.

Is it really safer to be driving around with a map and a post-it note with some hastily scibbled directions, or, to have a Garmin StreetPilot on your dash? Why just yesterday I was driving home when, without warning, the women in front of me slowed to a stop - at a green light - in the middle of traffic - to look at her directions to decide if she needed to turn right or not. We drivers were all able to stop to avoid ramming this lost women in her absurd SUV (c'mon folks, who really needs this vehicle in 95% of the nation? wasting gas, taking 2 parking spaces, etc...)

I love my Garmin, and it has prevented this sort of thing from happening for many. If it was playing the latest CNN feed or Star Trek re-runs the other drivers would be in peril, but alas, it simply shows me (and speaks to me) about when to turn. I was not aware this was (possibly) illegal here in CA. It appears it may be according to this article from Wired.

Well, on second thought, if you're like me you go through far more mobile phones than cordless phones. Just this pile of phones in my garage (and cables...) is about 5:1 mobile phones to cordless phones.

Verizon breaking new wireless ground....

Under the "greater than the sum of the parts" dept., Verizon has has announced that they will be offering a single "ONE" phone that combines cordless telephony and mobilel phone technology. Great idea, may be even a better idea for Sprint, who suffers from indoor coverage issues that Verizon due to their frequency of operation. Could be a challenge for Verizon customer care too...so strike that idea about sprint. Any new product or service that depends - even a little bit - on customer care will go down in flames with Sprint PCS.

Wi-Fi=Cordless Telephone -

the range is about the size of your house
the equipment costs a few hundred dollars total
the user installs it
it can turn a single line into multiple wireless connections,
there used to be terrible security issues, but they have largely been overcome
The new systems don't work well next to the microwave oven in the kitchen
etc.

Now, would you build a network of cordless telephone base stations and expect people to pay a premium for it? (it's been tried of course, and..drum role...it failed CT2)

This piece in Wireless News factor examines some current business issues around WiFi for enterprises and the challenges that they are facing.

Well, we can all relax now. Our President has called for a spectrum review. That was a close one.

Why WiFi will never be a wide area network...and...eating real German food
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OK. First the food part. As a wireless engineer, I was shocked, in 1990, when upon landing in Germany I thought to myself "..I've never seen so many Mercedes without car phones". Of course, my throughts were of LA and AMPS. This was pre-GSM. That was my job - design a GSM network for Germany. in 1990 nobody had heard of GSM. I worked for Mannesmann mobilfunk (D2 - now called Vodafone) who had, thanks in part to my firm..LCC, won the D2 beaurty contest. OK. I worked in the Mannesmann office and ate the cafeteria food for 3 DM/day. My favoriate was "schweinehexe"...pig knuckle. Today, in Stuttgart, 13 years later...I had...Schveinehexe! as good as I remembered it.


Now, the WiFi pathetic part. People...Please...Wifi is great in my home in Del Mar and in businesses, but..for pay?? If I can manage it I'll post this over WiFi (BT Openzone..from theairport Hilton at Heathrow ) but what a joke! I checked in and asked about this service. They charged me 15 pounds ($25) for 24 hours. OK. The guy at the front desk was no radio engineer and put me in a room...50 feet from the access point (see photo below)...but... with a vertically polarized antenna it would never work. I knew it. And sure enough, I've spent the evening in the lobby where it does work. When will they ever learn???