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 COLUMN
Visions of sugarplums DEAR SANTA,
During the past several years, I have joyfully accumulated several devices to make my life easier and more productive. And frankly, managing the devices is becoming a full-time job. You have been kind to me in the past, but your kindness has exacted a cost: In my laptop bag, in my pockets, and on my belt clip, I carry a Palm, a cell phone, a BlackBerry, and an OmniSky wireless cradle for my Palm. Each of these devices requires its own charger and its own cable to interface with my computer, and as you probably know, airport security doesn't appreciate people like me carrying a vast array of electronic devices. I'm tired of using the old numeric keypad on my phone to slowly program alphanumeric names into the phone list. Have you ever been walking down the street trying to use Graffiti on a Palm to find a phone number to dial on your cell phone? It takes three hands at least, and is about as easy as squeezing down a chimney with your girth (sorry, Santa). I need a seamless wireless e-mail and phone device with integrated access to my calendar and address book. I know the Handspring Treo isn't out until January, but could you please bring me a beta copy? Although I've only read the press releases, this device is the CTO's Holy Grail. This is no longer a want; it's a need. A simple note under the tree saying I'm in line to get one would suffice. Santa, this next request might be a little more difficult, but I'll ask anyway. I'll be good next year if you give me wireless access to the Internet from my laptop from all the places where I find myself sitting unproductively. Ever since Metricom went bankrupt, my useless Ricochet wireless modem mocks me every time I open my laptop bag. When I was traveling in New York a few weeks ago, I tapped into MobileStar's 802.11b wireless LAN network all over the city, stopping between meetings at the omnipresent Starbucks stores that offer the service to check my e-mail, respond, and keep everyone moving on projects in the home office. Several months ago, I set up a wireless LAN in my house for about $300. To use MobileStar's network in Starbucks and other locations, I pay $29.95 per month for unlimited use in a particular metro area, or 15 cents per minute outside that area. I'm willing to pay for this kind of wireless service, just as I'm willing to pay for my cell phone (or Treo, hopefully). But please, will you make wireless LANs ubiquitous? I would even pay $50 a month, maybe even $75. If I can set up a wireless network in my house for $300, surely someone can figure out a way to make money from charging people like me $50 per month. The future of wireless LAN services is still bright. After shutting down for a month due to lack of cash, MobileStar cranked up its service again in early November, and free community networks are popping up (www.toaster.net/wireless/community.html). But it would also be wonderful to have wireless LAN access at train stations and in every major U.S. airport. Most of the time, I have to do without this luxury. By the way, your milk and cookies will be sitting to the left of my wireless access point, near the stack of PDAs and device chargers. And last but not least, could you bring me a solution for wireless electricity? Maybe you could leverage the technology in Rudoph's nose. My power cords are the final remaining shackles from the wired world. What is on your CTO wish list for Santa, and where will you leave your milk and cookies? Write to chad_dickerson@infoworld.com. Chad Dickerson is CTO of InfoWorld. MORE > SPONSORED WHITE PAPERS 
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