On WiMAX..... Sorry for the late reply.....

I think WiMAX (or mobile WiMAX) is one of those things that is hard to imagine, until you have it. Of course, I *don't* have it, but I'm expecting that being ALWAYS connected at speeds high enough to download large files quickly or stream video is a MAJOR feature, without the hassle of having to find and connect to a wifi spot. Imagine having the same freedom as a cellular phone, but with internet access, moving or static, home or in the part. Wow.

I'm surprised that users aren't breaking down Nokia's doors for WiMAX. I can understand why some people that already have extended access via cellular data plans, or those that frequent metropolitan areas that are blanketed with WiFi may not be that dazzled by the prospect of anywhere-internet; you already have it. For the rest of us, however, it would be convenient, and is likely to have the reach of cellular in the very near future.

Here in Ontario, Bell (one of the major phone suppliers) already offers WiMAX (I'm assuming 802.16d -- no handoff to moving connections), to rural households that request broadband access. In addition Primus (another local provider) is testing WiMAX (for free, hardware included) in Hamilton (south of Toronto, west end of lake Ontario). Because of the WiMAX tower's reach, it's quick to cover a large area with internet access and it seems that providers are rushing to deliver this new service. I just hope that, like GSM, WiMAX allows you to roam to other providers.

If prices are reasonable and hardware available, VoIP services like skype, gizmo, vonage, etc, will flood the market with low cost (or free sans data) voice/video/text that are as comprehensive as cellular plans. Smaller providers will do the same (link2voip, call centric, didww, etc). Right now, I pay around 1 cent per minute outgoing SIP (to anywhere in Canada) and $5/mnth unlimited incoming for a phone number (or free if I'm calling another SIP phone). I've seen companies offering $20/mnth unlimited out for calling phones anywhere in North America. This means, at highest, I'll pay $25/mnth to talk as much as I want to *any* phone in North America. What's better is that it's pre-paid, so I *never* get billed. International rates are even more ridiculous: calling London costs only 2cents/min. Current cellular prices simply cannot compete with those rates.

I'm not saying that the N900 should be a phone, it wasn't meant to be, but having mobile WiMAX will keep us connected to the internet regardless of where we go. This includes all of the internet's functionality including the *option* of getting rid of our phones should we choose.

Surfing on the bus, on a train, outside of the theater, on a road trip, when lost, in the park, on the beach, etc, sounds like a killer feature to me.


}:^)~
YARR!!

Capt'n Corrupt