Cold over hotspots

Your article

(Focus, 16 January) hinted at but does not fully explore the big challenge facing those who attempt to roll out Wi-Fi networks across the

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How are Wi-Fi hotspots going to compete with the almost universal coverage of the cellular networks built by mobile phone operators?

3G phone networks are by no means the finished article, but they will provide many of the services people need and want — e-mail, video calling, games and even mobile TV — from a familiar and easy-to-use handset.

I would suggest that the number of people who want to walk around laden down with gadgets will be limited.

There will, of course, be businessmen, dedicated games fans and the like, but I wonder whether they will be enough to generate a decent return for service providers such as those talked about in your article.

James Fry
Cambridge