Driving through Montana, Wyoming and part of South Dakota over the past two days has made me realize that the notion of ubiquitous internet is something that will only work in major urban centers. Ubiquitous cell phone connectivity isn’t even a reality in these areas. Even in towns (small cites) of 50-80 thousand people finding a WiFi hotspot in something other than a hotel or Starbucks is not easy–assuming you can find a Starbucks or similar coffee shop with WiFi. Furthermore, the people who leave in these regions of the country do so in part because they don’t want all the trappings of the urban setting so ubiquitous access is something they have often chosen to leave behind.
As someone who has chosen to be constantly connected, the past couple of days have made me realize just how dependent I have become on the Net and my iPhone. I have had to resort to using paper based maps and 1-800 numbers to make hotel reservations. Just choosing a hotel without internet access has been a huge bother. Most questions like –does it have WiFi, is WiFi free, what about breakfast, how do you get there, can I park a big Uhaul in the parking lot and so on are all handled easily through hotel websites. Getting a deal on a hotel without internet is also a challenge. I normally use Hotwire or Priceline and I until this trip I can’t recall the last time I paid full price for a room.
While I appreciate the wide open spaces, amazing views and the lack of people in Montana, Wyoming and South Dakota I am looking forward to being back in a connected city like Abilene where I have WiFi, Wimax, 3G and I am always on.
