I was reading an article a while back that discussed Texas Instrument’s chip with multiple transceivers. With this chip devices will be able to connect to WiFi networks, Bluetooth and FM radio. This got me thinking, is this the beginning of a distributed communication revolution? Will the next versions include ultra wide band and WiMax transceivers as well?
Imagine a phone that not only connects to your cell provider but any other wireless network in the area. Handheld devices with increasingly more powerful processors could act as routers providing QoS for individual communication (deciding which network to use based on price and speed) and network nodes to pass data for other local devices (participating in a mobile ad-hoc network).
What would this mean for consumers and the current communication companies? First I think it would give consumers flexibility. A mobile device user would be able to communicate with local devices, think walkie talkies, for little or no cost and at the same time communicate with a device in Japan. Second the major communication companies might be forced to rethink their business plans if their customers only required long distance service or they might be relegated to operating satellite and under water fiber links as mobile and mesh networks mature.
In any case if this technology comes to fruition I predict some legal battles with the major communication companies (see New Orleans) and the RIAA.
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