Christmas List

As the holiday shopping season kicks into high gear, I’ve been thinking about a few Christmas wishes that if granted would make my life a whole lot easier, or at least more pleasant. Some of these wishes are within reason; others are probably wishful thinking. This being a magical season, though, perhaps some of these requests would result in a miracle or two on Mount Douglas Circle. I have been a good boy, after all.

Here's hoping that Santa brings Wi-Fi to the terminals in Calgary, Toronto, Seattle, and anywhere else business travelers fritter time away during layovers. While Santa's at it, he should bring Wi-Fi to the domestic skies in Canada with Connexion by Boeing. Although around for awhile, this service seems to be limited to transatlantic routes on Lufthansa and British Airways with plans to launch on a few non-U.S. airlines in 2004. It works and I know people would pay for it – what’s holding things back? OK, one last thing for travelers, I promise: AC power in coach. I know some airlines have this, but if Santa can urge airlines to make it standard, it would really make my holiday season.

While we’re talking wireless, let’s solve that “last wire” problem once and for all – I’m talking wireless electricity, Santa. I’ve got a Bluetooth phone and iPaq, and a Bluetooth and Wi-Fi enabled laptop, but I keep tripping over the power cords -- my only personal computing tethers at this point. I’m watching a company named MobileWise, which conceptually has an interesting solution similar to Wi-Fi – a base station plugged into your wired power supply that wirelessly transmits electricity to an adapter within the device that needs power. Because the base station is required, this solution doesn’t provide absolute mobility in terms of electricity, but it’s an innovative move in the right direction.

Finally how about mobile phone technology that works reliably? I recently upgraded to a new phone using all the latest technologies like Bluetooth and GSM. I can IM, take pictures, send and receive e-mail, get driving directions, and read the latest news headlines; however, the number of times I have to say, “I lost you, let me call you from a landline” seems to have increased even though I supposedly live in the most technologically advanced region in Canada. Hey, Santa, can you ask the phone companies to focus on actual phone calls again?

My last wish doesn’t really help anyone but me – I’d like a new iPod. The 40GB one. With its slim design, Santa should have no problem squeezing it down the chimney. Oh, I forgot peace on earth and goodwill toward men (and women). Let's throw that in, too.