More Static for 3G

Pity the telcos. Or scorn them for their bad investments. Remember the billions they pumped into 3G, that supposedly transformative technology that would have us all downloading Matrix sequels over our wristwatches and holding videophone conversations with grandma? All that's beginning to look a little bit moot as another wireless technology, faster and much cheaper than 3G, gains popularity.

Playing spoiler is a wireless Internet access system called Wi-Fi that is increasingly available in airports, restaurants, hotels, subway stations and other public places. Originally intended for use in private home and office networks, Wi-Fi (which stands for wireless...