No plug? No problem

摘要

There's something new hanging in the air over hundreds of North American truck stops, and it has nothing to do with the smell of coffee or exhaust fumes. It's a wireless connection to the Internet. Wi-fihas become one of the hottest trends in the world of personal computing, with users powering up their laptops within 50 and 200 metres of so-called "hot spots" that offer the service, signing on to their Internet accounts, and enjoying the freedom of surfing the Web without a cord. Perhaps truck stops were a natural venue for the technology. The lineups at their ever-expanding number of hard-wired Internet kiosks continue to grow. And every time a trucker wants to access the Net with his own equipment, he needs to pack up the laptop, carry it into the truck stop, and cart it around as he shops for everything from snacks to engine oil.