History: In 1985, Wireless Internet (WI-FI) became possible when the US Federal Communications Commission freed up band of radio airwaves. This needed no licensing at the time. A technology primarily designed for use with cashier systems, was developed for AT &T and NCR Corporation in Niewegein, the Netherlands. AT&T became Lucent Technologies and NCR Corporation became knows as Agere Systems.
Internet Wireless was first introduced to the public as WavLan by the father of WI-FI, Vic Hayes.
Today: From this year 2010, wireless internet is a feature of most laptops, as the manufacturers race to keep up with growing global trends. No wires are needed for local area networks and client devices. With this cost effective way of using the internet, many businesses and corporate environments have cut their costs of network infrastructures. As long as you use a standard wireless internet device, you are able to use the internet wherever you are in the world.
Wireless internet has taken off to such an extent that almost everyone using a laptop for business and travel uses it. It is everywhere, down to the little man in the street who sees the benefits of reduction in costs, the wide-spread availability, and freedom of movement (no wires). Wireless internet is provided by hot-spots, which is why large companies and restaurants, hotels and airports, use this as a client-attracting marketing strategy, as part of their client service, to offer their clients free use of wireless internet hotspots at these locations.
Most Personal Computers, Laptops, Video Games consoles, and palm sized computers, MP3 players, smart-phones, mobile phones and personal digital assistants, as from 2010, have installed as standard, an IEEE 802.11 device, which makes them wireless internet compatible. All of these devices, and many other wireless internet enabled devices can connect to the internet, while within the range of an access point (wireless network) already connected to the internet. These wireless networks are called hotspots (access points).