Apparently, this nationwide DWDM could even be up and running in months. If the rumors and speculation turn out to be anywhere close to true and Google can pull this off, the news is great for all of us--hopefully providing wider Internet access free one day to most everyone.

It would be just like Google to offer an amazing resource for absolutely no charge. They did it in search engines and now it appears they want to do it for giving you free Internet access, and even better, free wireless high-speed Internet access.

Now they will make money from this, just like they did with their search engine. Google Ad Words provides them with nearly $4 billion in annual revenues. I believe this follows a biblical model, you reap what you sow. For many years Google provided outstanding service at no charge, providing massive benefits to hundreds of millions of people. Now they are able to reap the rewards and harvest the good seeds they planted.

It is a great model, and one I constantly seek to emulate.

Getting to the phone service though.

Recently Japan announced that they will be using 4G cell phones (not land lines) that could receive data at 100 megabits per second on the move and at up to one gigabit per second while stationary. To give you an idea of that bandwidth power, you could look at 32 high-definition (not regular TV) video streams at once while you were traveling in your car.

The United States is making some limited progress in 3G phone networks.

Verizon has already rolled out its 3G networks in 14 U.S. cities, and you can connect wirelessly to the Internet for $60 a month (unlimited) in these cities. Unfortunately, Chicago is not one of the cities, but within a year they should have most of the United States covered.

The Sprint-Nextel merger is rapidly following with their 3G EVDO systems. However, it is my belief that you and I will not have to wait 10 years for 4G phones or expensive 3G wireless, as Wi-Max is on the way and will be here shortly if Google has anything to say about it.

Wi-Max is short for Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access and comes in two flavors. The first, known as fixed wireless, is similar to Wi-Fi but on a much larger scale and at faster speeds. 

Unlike Wi-Fi, Wi-Max can transmit up to 30 miles. Yes, you read it right, 30 miles. It doesn't take many Wi-Max towers to cover most cities. Most communities will only require a handful of Wi-Fi transmitters to provide coverage to their residents.

The really exciting development, though, is nomadic Wi-Max, which would keep Wi-Max-enabled devices (like your "cell" phone) connected over large areas. Intel is projecting that they will have this deployed in their notebooks in late 2006 or early 2007.

I have had conventional VoIP (voice over Internet protocol) phone service for nearly three years, and over 2. 5 million Americans have now made a similar choice. Next year, Wi-Max will be widespread.

What is the Exciting News for You?

In the next few years it is clear to me that you will have the ability to connect wirelessly to the Internet nearly everywhere in the country. 

If you have a VoIP wireless phone that connects automatically to the Internet you can make a call on the Internet. Just like current systems such as Vonage, there is a fixed monthly fee and you can make as many calls as you want for a fixed amount. This includes many countries like Canada and Mexico.

Other plans allow you to add up to 35 countries to the list.

The major innovation here is that you will do this wirelessly and not be fixed to the few hundred feet you can walk in your home on your portable phone.

So rather than use your cell phone, you will connect to the Internet wirelessly and use VoIP as an alternative to your cell phone carrier. These new VoIP wireless phones are essentially alternatives to your cell phone.

Just as many people dropped their land lines, soon nearly everyone will be dropping their cell phone carriers. The reason? Rock-bottom prices. No longer will you pay over $100 a month for your cell phone. You will pay $25 for your home AND cell phone for UNLIMITED use. Also remember that you avoid paying taxes or hidden fees. Just $25 a month.

So you can call anywhere in the United States and Canada for one low monthly fee. If you have to call internationally the rates are typically 3 cents a minute. Compare that to the nearly universal $1 per minute or more for most international cell phone calls.

Very exciting and one of the major fruits of Moore's Law.

Who would have thought that AT&T would have ever collapsed, as in its heyday it was one of the largest and most powerful corporations on earth.

Well, technology can do that.

That is why I am equally convinced that even though the top 10 drug companies have more wealth than the rest of the Fortune 500 companies combined, it is clear that they, like the phone companies, will fall.

You and I will catalyze that process. Mark my words. This is happening as you read this page.