In the cramped, dingy offices of MobileSpring, CEO Mark Caron talks about the promise and limitations of wireless communication. Caron says his developers are working on applications that people can use now, such as instant messaging between different types of devices. We need to focus on what's really useful, such as e-mail and messaging, and news and stock information. New York City is emerging as a center for wireless Internet applications, financing and advertising, Caron says, because it's ideally located for deals between the United States and Europe, where the wireless phenomenon is stronger. For the moment, he says, most people don't buy things or conduct other transactions like banking or reserving a restaurant table on the wireless Internet.
Wireless modems are slow, and coverage is often spotty.
In six to 12 months, however, he predicts that we'll be using mobile phones to pay parking meters or buy a Coke from a machine, like they can in Finland. Clearly, we're not quite there. I enter the subway and try to message my editor again on my cell phone. By the time I reach the subway platform, the signal is lost. Even if I can't get my gifts wire-lessly, I can at least take advantage of New York City's reputation as a mecca for electronics shopping.