| A collection of recent articles describes how Wi-Fi | | | | something was up when with the future of your |
| internet is going to bring with it many benefits, but it | | | | phone service when eBay was willing to pay $4 billion |
| will first have to overcome the opposition of | | | | to purchase the Voice over IP company Skype a |
| telephone and cable companies.Free Phone | | | | few weeks ago.Over the past ten years SBC (new |
| CallsAccording to eBay's chief executive Meg | | | | name AT & T) and Verizon have spent tens of |
| Whitman, within a few years, customers may be able | | | | billions of dollars building telecom empires so they |
| to make telephone calls for free, with no per-minute | | | | could dominate the industry and, without question, |
| charges, while the carriers make money on | | | | currently dominate the industry as together they |
| advertising or transaction fees.This statement was | | | | control nearly two-thirds of all residential phone lines |
| made during a discussion of eBay's purchase of | | | | in the US.But the Internet WILL change all that and |
| web-based communications phenomenon Skype | | | | these companies are not prepared for it. They will |
| Technologies. The company is hoping that by | | | | lose 40% of their land line residential customers over |
| combining electronic markets, online payment | | | | the next ten years. This week's NY Times also |
| systems, and Web-based communications, it can | | | | reported how the smaller Internet providers, like |
| become a leader in all three areas.Skype allows | | | | Earthlink, are battling these giants.It is becoming |
| members to make free Web-based calls to each | | | | increasingly clear that your connection to the Internet |
| other, and has more than 57 million registered users. | | | | will replace your phone service. The key will not to |
| EBay believes Skype's growth will drive down voice | | | | have a cell phone or a land line but an Internet |
| communications costs down to nothing over the next | | | | connection. Because if you have an Internet |
| three to six years.Rural Wi-FiOne major hurdle in the | | | | connection, you will be able to get your phone |
| growth of Voice Over Internet telephony, however, | | | | service for free.Now I am not talking about |
| is the inconsistency of Wi-Fi availability. So it's | | | | connecting your desktop or notebook into an |
| interesting to note that a desolate area in Oregon | | | | Ethernet cable, but using a wireless connection, in |
| has become the world's largest Wi-Fi hotspot, a | | | | many ways not very different than your cell phone. |
| region that stretches over 700 square miles.Wireless | | | | Currently the wireless internet is restricted to WiFi |
| projects in more metropolitan areas have been | | | | which is only good for hundreds of feet. However, |
| stymied by telephone and cable TV companies, which | | | | that will soon change when WiFi is morphed into |
| have spent large amounts of money lobbying state | | | | WiMax and your connection will be good for 25 miles |
| and local governments to pass bills aimed at | | | | or more.You can start to see the trend. Google has |
| discouraging competition.In the country, however, | | | | offered tomake San Francisco wireless last month, |
| large corporations see little profit potential, which | | | | and now Philadelphia and as the article aboverural |
| enabled wireless entrepreneur Fred Ziari to build a $5 | | | | Oregonare close behind.Lobbying from cable and |
| million wireless network, at his own expense, without | | | | phone providers have stymied many projects in |
| restrictions. Already, the network has revolutionized | | | | major urban markets across the country. Philadelphia's |
| the way business, emergency planning, and police | | | | plan to build a citywide WiFi network sparked state |
| work are conducted, along with many other | | | | legislators (prompted by phone and cable companies) |
| businesses and services.Ziari's network is free to the | | | | to limit every other town in the state to do the |
| public; he is recouping his investment through | | | | same thing!The biggest obstacle to creating these |
| contracts with city and county agencies and larger | | | | cheap wireless networks isn't the building of them, |
| businesses.Even as Wi-Fi hotspots continue to | | | | according to experts. According to the Wi-Fi Alliance, |
| increase, with more than 70,000 currently registered | | | | it's more a matter of |
| around the world, only a very few major cities have | | | | "who's-going-to-get-a-piece-of-the-action?".What Does |
| complete Wi-Fi access across their entire | | | | All This Mean For YOU?One thing you can be certain |
| area.Different Approaches to Wi-Fi for | | | | of is change. So please be careful about signing any |
| CitiesHowever, a handful of municipalities across the | | | | long term contracts with your phone company as it |
| nation using a variety of approaches to introduce | | | | with virtually near certainty I can assure you that the |
| full-coverage Wi-Fi, in spite of the opposition from | | | | future of your phone service will not resemble |
| the telephone and cable companies. Rio Rancho, New | | | | anything you have seen in the past and, best of all, |
| Mexico, has a solution employing a network of 400 | | | | odds are very high it will be free.Next week I will be |
| access points, while Manassas, Virginia, is employing a | | | | writing about the cell phone carrier that has just |
| broadband over power line (PBL) approach.Madison, | | | | signed a long-term contract with the US Defense |
| Wisconsin is getting their citywide Wi-Fi, with the help | | | | Department that seems to secure their position as |
| of a firm supplying real-time automated meter | | | | the leading cell phone carrier in the US.This article is |
| reading for the utilities industry. It will be installed at | | | | reprinted from Mercola.com, the world's #1 most |
| no cost to the city, as the providers have secured | | | | visited and trusted natural/alternative health website. |
| initial funding from service agreements from | | | | For a limited time only, you can take the FREE |
| ISPs.Even in the face of corporate opposition, | | | | "Metabolic Type Test" to help you learn the right |
| municipal wireless networks are expected to grow by | | | | foods for your particular body type so you can |
| 128 percent annually by 2007.Wired News October | | | | achieve optimal fitness & health. Just go to right now |
| 16, 2005Yahoo News October 20, October 21, | | | | to take this quick test! |
| 2005Dr. Mercola's Comment:You had to know | | | | |