Today, however, Wi-Fi has ceased being a novelty. Almost all late-model laptops come with Wi-Fi capability. Wi-Fi also comes as a standard feature in most PDA and mobile phone models, except the barest, cheapest entry-level models. Another proof of Wi-Fi technology’s growing popularity is the increase in shipment of Wi-Fi radio chipsets.

In 2005, chipset shipments breached the 120 million mark, according to data released by In-Stat and the Wi-Fi Alliance industry group. And with the dramatic drop in prices of Wi-Fi radio chipsets, market analysts expect electronics manufacturers to expand their lines of Wi-Fi-enabled consumer electronics devices. In fact, Hewlett-Packard, Palm, Toshiba, and a host of other vendors have introduced PDA models equipped with built-in Wi-Fi. I remember I reviewed at least a couple of PDAs with Wi-Fi capability way back in 2003.

Wi-Fi on the Run

Aside from their meaner and sleeker looks, today’s automobiles also come with a lot more electronics than their predecessors had. In fact, automotive electronics is one of the leading growth drivers of the electronics industry especially during the last couple of years. In more advanced markets, even the lowliest sedans and people’s cars now come with state-of-the-art audio systems, car navigation systems, and GPS devices.

Sooner rather than later, service stations or gas stations will become Wi-Fi hot spots (in other more advanced countries, they already have). Drivers can then download MP3 files, update their navigation systems with the latest traffic data, even receive and send e-mails aside from filling up their cars’ fuel tanks, or having their oil changed.

Meanwhile, a number of manufacturers have introduced various Wi-Fi devices designed for sending and receiving files including music, movies and pictures, even placing and receiving phone calls, wherever their users might be at home, in the office, or the outdoors. All these functions performed without the need to connect with cables.

Video, Audio Files Fly

Several VCR-size devices currently in the market enable their users to wirelessly send video or still images from their PCs to the TV sets. These products include the D-Link DSM-320RD MediaLounge Wireless Media Player and the Buffalo LinkTheater PC-P3LWGDVD. Other manufacturers offer similar devices, or plan to do so in the near future.

Point, Shoot, and Send

If the idea of putting a camera on mobile phones makes sense, I guess nobody would be burned at stake for suggesting a Wi-Fi-enabled digital camera. Apparently, a number of camera makers feel the same way too. The Nikon Coolpix P2 and Kodak EasyShare-one are just some of the Wi-Fi digital cameras that will readily forgive their owners for forgetting to bring the USB cables or flash memory peripherals along with them.

These cameras are designed to enable their users to shoot and immediately transfer photos to their PCs, storage devices, or the Internet, using Wi-Fi technology.

Big Brother’s Into Wi-Fi Too

Fears about one’s security and safety seem to be man’s scourge in the new millennium. Good thing there are Wi-Fi-enabled remote Web cameras. Consumers can easily connect these wireless cameras, and use them as unblinking, always-on sentinels. More importantly, users can view what their Webcams can see via the Internet.

Game Consoles as Wireless Hubs

The latest incarnations of the leading game console brands come with Wi-Fi capabilities and related services. The Nintendo DS, Xbox 360, and the much delayed PS3 from Sony, can function as wireless hubs, bringing wireless networking to millions of homes. But what is more exciting is that these devices are designed to perform other tasks aside from their game-console duties. These gadgets also enable their users to surf the Internet, download files, send e-mails and interact with other gamers online.

There are probably millions more applications that design engineers can think of for Wi-Fi radio technology. Today, Wi-Fi is used in media players, automobiles, cameras, and video game devices. It seems that only engineers’ imagination and consumer demand are the limits to Wi-Fi expansion. At the rate things are going, consumers will soon enjoy seamless, always-on, wireless connectivity.