Depending on one’s perspective, the internet cafe is either one of the greatest, or most outdated, innovations of the early 1990s. On the plus side, we enjoy being out in the open air while using internet instead of crammed into a tiny little office or corner at home the whole day through. On the downside, since the vast majority of us are already paying for internet, it’s a drag to have to pay a fee to get online at most internet hotspots. One of the pros is the ability to order food or a beverage while enjoying some internet time, and one of the cons is the overcrowded nature and wait-times now taking over many of the best cafes. Could it be time for the internet cafe to change its ways? The answer to that is another question: When will mobile WiMax be available nationwide?

Why are there some internet cafes that are just plain busier, trendier, and more popular? Unfortunately in the internet cafe market these locales have something that not every trendy product has, which is superior quality. The busiest spots generally are the best. They have better connectivity, lower prices, more power outlets, better food or coffee, and above all else, a better ambiance. However, many of us may feel foolish standing in line just to get online, especially when we are already paying to use internet in the comfort of our own homes. What these cafes thrive off of is the unavailability of quality wireless internet signals in public spaces. For those who prefer not to rush home every time they are expecting an important email, it’s time to take a nod from cities like Portland, Oregon, who are already experiencing 4G or Fourth Generation mobile broadband technology.

This latest development amongst internet service providers allows users to have anywhere-everywhere internet signals sent directly to their computer no matter where it is. Magic? Not exactly. Using a system similar to cell phone towers this wire-free WiMax internet providers send out a signal which anyone with a plan can access within range. That means that no matter where the computer goes, it’s taking internet with it. Not just the basic function powers of today’s 3G internet either, this is mobile broadband internet with high speeds, and the capability to send large files on the go. With the populous no longer tied down to short-range wireless signals suddenly the whole world is an internet cafe. Imagine those coveted Wi-Fi Hotspots signs hung just about everywhere, under a favorite tree in the park, a home office, the bus stop, the supermarket, the library, any old cafe, a picnic bench, a neighbor’s house, a work office, a work client’s office, in waiting rooms… you get the point, just about anywhere you’d want to go.

So, is the internet cafe here to stay? Surely it is, but maybe a little push from the competition in wireless service wouldn’t hurt. That is, depending on one’s perspective.