Surfing the Net (on the 405)
Has it gotten to the point where you need wireless access IN YOUR CAR? Well, the San Diego Union-Tribune writes about folks who can't live without it. One is Terry Smith, a Poway auto insurance agent who is shown in a photo typing away, hunched over his back hatch!!
The first commercial deployments of wireless access in vehicles were in law-enforcement cars and on commuter shuttle buses. Avis Rent a Car System offers a wireless Internet device for its rental vehicles in San Francisco for an extra $10.95 a day. The company plans to roll out the service to other cities, including San Diego, this year. Made by AutoNet Mobile, the device is about the size of a three-ring binder and plugs into a vehicle's cigarette lighter for power. It serves as a router by accessing the Internet via a cellular network and then beaming a WiFi connection throughout the vehicle. Any WiFi-enabled laptop can connect to it. AutoNet Mobile, based in Marin County, plans to sell the $399 devices through dealerships this year. The service requires a monthly connection fee of $39 to $49.
rather than outfitting your car you can get a cel phone w/ high speed access. sprint offers decent service like this. with many phone models you can connect your laptop to the internet via your phone (either through bluetooth or a usb cable).
Posted by: mike d. | July 13, 2007 at 03:30 PM