Global wireless ISP

Is there such a thing as a wireless ISP with connection capabilities not
limited to hotspots?. When can we expect wireless internet to get the same
coverture as mobile telephony?.

"eMeL" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:(E-Mail Removed)...
> "DocsHolliday" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
> news:(E-Mail Removed)...
> >
> > Is there such a thing as a wireless ISP with connection capabilities not
> > limited to hotspots?. When can we expect wireless internet to get the
same
> > coverture as mobile telephony?.

I have a GPRS wireless card in my laptop on test.

It gives "walled garden" style internet - i.e. no outside initiated
connections, but is OK for browsing and a VPN link for outlook email.

Coverage with vodafone in the UK is similar to GSM mobile phone (i.e. most
places, but with some annoying blank spots) - which makes sense since it
shares some of the same infrastructure.

Data rates are not great - varies from a few hundred bit / sec to 40 k or
so - and lots of latency, so not much use for Citrix or similar.

But it works where nothing else is available.....
>
> Never, due to its technical limitations and limited bandwidth available.
Wi-Fi uses
> an unlicensed sliver of spectrum meant for ISM (industrial, scientific,
medical)
> applications , has a rather limited capacity, and not all
frequencies/channels used
> by Wi-Fi are available worldwide. There might be more-less dense hot-spot
typy
> coverage in many places, perhaps even in large areas, but don't expect
802.11 to be
> omnipresent. OTOH hybrid solutions, such as auto-switching hybrid GPRS
(or other
> 2.5G-3G cellular data networks) and Wi-Fi cards will start appearing RSN.
>
> --
> ><emeL><
> ...nothin' ain't worth nothin', but it's free...
--
Regards

Stephen Hope - remove xx from email to reply

"shope" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:8ax_a.11800$(E-Mail Removed)...
> I have a GPRS wireless card in my laptop on test.
>
> It gives "walled garden" style internet - i.e. no outside initiated
> connections, but is OK for browsing and a VPN link for outlook email.
>

That's the limitation of your provider or - more likely - your plan, because I
use my GPRS phone (SE T68i) to connect via GPRS from my laptop and once connected
I'm on the 'net, not in a "walled garden" of WAP or similar services.

> Coverage with vodafone in the UK is similar to GSM mobile phone (i.e. most
> places, but with some annoying blank spots) - which makes sense since it
> shares some of the same infrastructure.

Actually, the footprint of GPRS is usually smaller than that of GSM for a variety
of reasons.

> Data rates are not great - varies from a few hundred bit / sec to 40 k or
> so - and lots of latency, so not much use for Citrix or similar.

Yeah, that also depends on the implementation of GPRS by your provider and your
phone/ GPRS card (number of channels up/down)
On T-Mobile USA I get 30-40K with very short latency. On Airtel in Spain the
speeds IMO are a tad faster.


--
><emeL><
....nothin' ain't worth nothin', but it's free...