I'm a huge fan of cellular phones that incorporate WiFi. Once you have WiFi in your phone you're unlikely to want to purchase another phone without it.
Firstly, Web based applications are generally much faster than over cellular. Yes, I know, sometimes WiFi connections aren't particularly good, while sometimes HSDPA and 1xEV-DO provide better data rates than WiFi. I also am well aware of the local coverage "islands" of WiFi versus cellular's wide area coverage.
These issues notwithstanding, using WiFi for access the Web often trumps cellular for speed.
WiFi rocks with cellular
Secondly, WiFi will be a very big deal for VoIP. For consumers and businesses, WiFi will make a significant difference for decreasing costs and enhancing coverage compared to cellular.
Thirdly, we are becoming so dependent on wireless communications that having a second wireless network as a back-up is a good idea. Want a useful example? T-Mobile's cellular network in my market, the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area, sometimes crashes for data services.
As a result, I can't get my BlackBerry e-mail via EDGE. But my BlackBerry has Gmail software, and copies of my e-mail are forwarded to multiple e-mail addresses. If EDGE goes down, I can access e-mail on my BlackBerry (and other cellular phones) via WiFi.
More on "Thinkernet"
I write much more about this in my latest "Thinkernet" column, "Wi-Fi Calling," (see above) on CMP's "Internet Evolution" Web site.
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