The expected sale of AT&T Wireless for $35 billion may be a brilliant maneuver for the phone company, as new technologies may make cellular phones obsolete.
The newer technology, known as wireless networking, or Wi-Fi, is already being utilized by 4.5 million households. With this technology, customers can link their personal computers and other gadgets to the Internet and broadband without using phone cords or jacks.
Already, Wi-Fi hot spots are cropping up in hotels and airports, allowing users to access the Internet with their laptops and other wireless devices without plugging into phone lines.