By Anne Dimon, Special to Digital Journal
Over the last couple of years, Wi-Fi has rolled out in some very cool places. With my Intel-powered Fujitsu LifeBook as my constant travel companion, I’ve launched my browser and connected to the Web while lounging in a poolside cabana at the luxurious Phoenician in Scottsdale, Arizona; while sipping a martini in the lobby of the Four Seasons Scottsdale at Troon North; as an après-brunch at the posh Azure restaurant of InterContinental Toronto Centre; while curled up in a comfy armchair in front of the massive floor-to-ceiling stone fireplace at Fairmont’s historic Le Château Montebello in Quebec; and while revolving merry-go-round style at the Monteleone Hotel’s famed Carousel Bar in New Orleans’ French Quarter.
There I was, sipping a Southern Comfortini, responding to emails and tapping out a story about Southern Comfort’s Obituary Cocktail Tour at this literary landmark. It was a perfect place for a writer to hang out, for all around me I felt the palpable presence of the literary giants who once swivelled on these barstools before the Internet Age — Ernest Hemingway, William Faulkner, Tennessee Williams and Truman Capote, to name a few.
One of my most serendipitous wireless encounters was at the Holiday Inn Nairobi, Kenya where Wi-Fi is available even in guest rooms. At a cost of $18 (US) for a 24-hour period, it’s not cheap, but when outside service range of my Blackberry I’ll pay almost anything for the convenience of Wi-Fi.
Welcome to the wondrous world of wireless Internet. Over the last year or so, it has become so widespread — hotspots are being rolled out at Wal-Mart outlets — you’ll find it in Starbucks, Burger King, McDonald’s and in that little coffee shop on the corner.
But when in comes to travel, Mr. and Mrs. Consumer will not often get to experience the full benefits of Wi-Fi. That is because the term continues to puzzle the people hired to market it…
This article is part of Digital Journal‘s Spring 2005 issue. To read the rest of this story, pick up your copy in bookstores across Canada or the United States!
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