As consumer expectations rise, service providers struggle to meet their needs. We’re always looking for something faster, stronger, and better. Eventually, technology evolution will reach its limit. Though there is still room to improve the mobile backhaul situation, its worrisome that this room for improvement will be short-lived.

Most recently, Federal Communications Chairman Julius Genachowski defended his plan to impose regulations on broadband ISPs in front of the financial services subcommittee of the House Appropriations Committee. He backs his plans despite the recent court ruling stating the commission lacked the authority to regulate.

Genachowski is trying to get around this court ruling by classifying broadband internet as a common carrier service (putting it in the same category as phone service, which can be regulated by the FCC). Was Genachowski going too far by trying to outsmart authority? The answer to this is unclear, but we do know that it caused a fair upset among many members of the board.

On the other hand, a new group called the “Broadband Internet Technical Advisory Group” (BITAG) has raked in high profile members such as AT&T, Comcast, Verizon, Google, Intel, and Microsoft.

So, which way is the right way? Clearly unregulated broadband internet will not continue forever, but how will we decide who will regulate it…and how will these regulations be played out? It is a question that needs answering before things get out of hand. It is an unfortunate necessity that as technology continues to improve the rules regulating it has to get tougher.  While it may seem the argument goes in circles, eventually a decision will have to be made.

Foursquare awards badges for certain activities, and crowns a mayor for each location based on who checks in the most times in the last 60 days.  Some people make this a competition and try to check in as many times as possible in order to keep their mayoral title.  Even better, if you go somewhere that isn’t already listed on foursquare you simply add the venue to the application.  With foursquare you can see where all your friends are and let them know your whereabouts.  Features of the application also let you add comments about the location where you are such as a favorite dish other customers should try or a great sale going on at a clothing store where you’re shopping.

Many businesses are beginning to catch on to this trend to and using it as a marketing tool by rewarding their Foursquare patrons.  This application provides businesses with analytic data about their customers, which they can use to offer discounts and specials.  Some restaurants might offer a free meal to their Foursquare mayor or give a free drink to customers on their 5^th check-in.  They can also promoted their company by having a Foursquare night and offering a special to all Foursquare users if they show up and check-in at their business.

So where does wireless come in? After joining on zipcar.com, you can make a reservation months in advance or only a few minutes.  When making a last minute reservation the Zipcar iPhone App can be extremely useful.  No matter where you are you can reserve a car as needed.  But don’t despair, if you don’t have an iPhone, many other smartphones can make mobile reservations using a GPS app called WHERE.  Even better, if you would like to extend your reservation and the car is available this can all be done on your smartphone with wireless capability.  Reservations and extensions can also be done on zipcar.com.

Zipcar also makes use of wireless throughout the use of the car.  Radio frequency identification (RFID) is used for locking and unlocking the car.  A Zipcar user simply scans her card against the card reader in the car’s windshield, which recognizes the reservation and unlocks the car.  At the end of the trip, after locking the vehicle, details from the trip can be viewed at zipcar.com.

Zipcar is an easy, Eco-friendly way of getting you where you want to go, and wireless internet is making it a system bound for success.

With every new generation of wireless internet that technicians and engineers unleash on the broader population and marketplace, there are truly exciting advancements to come with.  From second to third generation mobile standards we saw the door opened to voice over internet protocol applications and other broadband-intense applications; now, from third to fourth generation mobile standards we are seeing even more dynamic VoIP applications and other apps that most of us would only expect to use on a potent desktop computer.  Furthermore, next generation wireless internet is bringing us download speeds that most cable/DSL subscribers can only expect to get on the best of days, with speeds topping 10 to 12 Mbps on a regular basis.

The network architecture being deployed in many next generation systems is so clever that, lo and behold, citywide wireless internet is finally here—and that is meaning wireless connections for stationary, home or office based users.  Why not take advantage of a superbly reliable signal that offers you more service flexibility (such as simultaneous stationary and mobile access) and which brings better speeds to your office or home setting?!  With next generation wireless, all this and more could be yours!

What would it take for total wireless access to happen?  First of all, there would have to be the network which can get it all done, especially on the mobile front.  Wired networks obviously can’t, since there are going to be places which are almost out of bounds where people will need to use the internet on the road.  The latest wireless networks cannot cover entire states yet, but they can cover entire metropolitan areas with high speed internet.

Of course, that would cover access on the road, but it would have to get up to the speed that home users can access all the time.  Slow mobile networks are not appealing at all.  The network that can get 5 MB speeds on the road is something to get excited about for wireless users.

The flip side to getting top speed in wireless internet on the road means you could get access to the same network at home.  At this point, things could really become simplified.  You’ll have the high speed access on the road; you’ll have high speed internet at home as strong as anything you’ve had with wired connections; and you’ll have it from the same company.

Last but not least, you will need to have the price somewhere in the range of reasonability.  Everyone knows that high speed internet is possible in a variety of ways on the road, but the affordability factor has always been a major issue with tech developments.  Getting the best of both worlds at an affordable price is total wireless access to get excited about.

So who can get the most out of wireless internet and who is winning so far?

It’s hard to say, but each has gotten its fair piece of the pie.  Here is what the different groups are ecstatic about:

Social networking cliques: You never get offline, no matter where you are in town, no matter who is sending you a message.  You never miss a change in plans for the night’s activities.  Pictures can be emailed; video chats are a cinch.  This group is getting a lot out of wireless internet.

Businesspeople: Stock tickers are always coming in on time.  Calls go and come without fail.  Video conferences are a possibility when you can’t get to the office because you’re stuck in traffic.  Continuous service means trust for clients and partners alike.

News junkies: Reporters, bloggers, columnists and spectators do not like to wait for someone in the community to tell them the news.  Wireless internet all the time allows them to hear the news from primary sources, or at least from wire reports.  Updates and alerts make the system that much easier to handle.

Sports fanatics: Sports fans with a busy schedule cannot be parked on a couch or on a bar stool whenever a game is on.  That’s life.  Wireless internet brings access to all the games.  It’s really a test of bandwidth for the sports fan, as live video feeds depend on the strong signals.  If the connection is not clicking, there is no game.

Are you missing out on what you can do with wireless internet?  Here are some ideas on going from daybreak to midnight with your connection:

Morning: Sneak out to your backyard with a laptop before anyone in your house wakes up.  Get your late or early emails out of the way and see what lies before you at work.  On your way to the office, keep your head clear by watching the news stream live onto your smart phone or laptop.  If you’re watching the kids, let them stay occupied with a movie on your laptop while you’re dealing with a traffic jam.

Afternoon: If you are having a rough day at the office, sneak off to a park and get some peace and quiet.  While you’re enjoying your improvised picnic, stay in touch with your wireless internet connection.  Answer emails and browse through websites quickly.

Evening: During the commute home, check out an episode of your favorite TV show.  If you have movie plans for the night, watch the trailers and buy tickets before you even get near the theater.  You won’t have to wait in line or even think about anything, so show up 5 minutes before show time if you like.

Night: If you’re staying in for the night, let wireless internet keep you up to date from your bedroom or front porch.  If you’re thinking about hitting the town, stay on top of the events with your cell phone.  When friends decide to change gears, see if you are still on board – check out a clip of a band they want to see or a bar they want to visit.  Whatever happens, you’ll be in the loop.

Here are five reasons that using wireless on a computer is a whole lot better than thinking you are pulling one over by sitting there trying to write an email from your mobile phone or music player.

#1 – A laptop isn’t that much of a limitation. With the new types of wireless including connections that you can take anywhere, there is no longer the trouble of trying to figure out where you are going to get a network connection for your laptop. This means you can be practically anywhere, and still be online.

#2 – The growing number of Wi-Fi networks in shops you already head to. If you have a favorite coffee place or restaurant in a major city, chances are these days that it involves wireless connectivity. With more and more businesses getting on board with this new business plan, you will find more of that wireless you need.

#3 – Freelancing chances. You can’t freelance from your phone, but you certainly can work from just about anywhere if you have the right wireless network taking care of your connection.

#4 – Increased entertainment options. Forgot to charge your mp3 player and feeling the pressure since everyone else on your bus or train is blasting music? If you have a laptop with wireless, you can be streaming your favorite radio stations in no time.

#5 – Going where you want. Whether you are in a busy office space or a crowded dorm, having a network that means you can actually leave, and the sort of device that actually lets you do the work you need to do means no more getting stuck somewhere that you really don’t want to be.