Something must have happened at T-Mobile USA, the Deutsche Telecom US wireless carrier, recently. Shortly after announcing that they will upgrade their network to 3G they "recognized" that they own one of the largest Wifi networks with 7,000 hotspots (Starbucks, Hyatt Hotels and other public places).

While this is a trial in the Seattle area still, I would expect/hope that they roll out this service everywhere in the US.

Analysts think this is a service for under-30 youngsters only. I am not so sure. If I am travelling in the US I would like to have a service that I can do phone calls and at the same time also surf the Web at public places. I can imagine that not having to constantly log on (typing credit card details) but getting Wifi access just straight with your monthly plan is what consumers - and business travelers in particular - would like a lot. I would like it for sure. Why on earth it took them so long to figure that out though will remain an insider secret I guess.