[cgomez]

That seems really unlikely. Doesn't the FCC limit the range at which consumer radio products can transmit from their source? So, part of it is a technological limitation of WiFi, but also legal. And long-distance WiFi already exists, isn't that what WiMax was?

I don't think the telecom companies are going to be displaced very soon because the simplicity of never having to choose a network to connect to is just how people think. Continguous and unibiquitous mobile broadband is probably not on the horizon from someone who isn't a large telecom.

The move to unlocked phones though, I think is spot on.

[ars]

That's not enough. If WiFi had a higher power there would be more interference and things would be slower.

Cell data server works mainly because they put up a HUGE number of towers. But on the flip side, because they put up a limited number of towers, and make sure to not interfere with themself by carefully adjusting the transmit power.