Most of the latest wireless-enabled gadgets (PDAs, Cell Phones, Pagers, Portable Computers, etc.) now include a direct uplink to the Internet.

Even though they often differ in terms of the wireless frequency spectrum used, the type of modulation employed, and the bandwidth they provide; most of them have one thing in common -a predefined route to a wireless router/gateway that is supposed to provide an apparently seamless connectivity to the Internet.

Whereas there has been a significant increase in the number of TELCOs (Verizon Wireless, AT T Wireless, Cingular Wireless, Sprint Wireless, etc.) and WISPs that now provide nationwide (or even international) access to Wireless Internet Services that (usually) includes roaming capability for a relatively small monthly fee, a large majority of users still connect to the Internet using a fixed wireless internet gateway located within close proximity of their wifi-enabled devices.