Reality Check Our take on trends and directions in the Net device industry. All is not bleak in the home Net device industry, which received some good news last week. It is becoming clear that vendors must rethink Net appliances before they can succeed. The U.S. wireless industry sped ahead with 3G plans last week despite the gloomy economy and industry predictions of failure. Nothing is certain in life.
Recent events prove that's particularly true in the Net device industry.
Now, things are getting interesting. A possible slow-down in 3G deployment and a sour economy could seriously hurt innovative wireless companies. Several critical trends in the Net device industry emerged in one day last week. There are phones and there are handhelds. The coming merger of the two will have a profound impact on the Net device industry.