As a consultant in new product and service launches, I get to see (and play with) a lot of stuff in early development. Sure, there are enhancements and add-ons to be created here and there, but you can usually tell right away when a company is on to something that will be important.

Here are three very interesting wireless products/services that you should try out now, so that when the technologies hit Version 3.0 and become mainstreamed, you're ready to go. I'm not saying that the current incarnations are the ideal products, but that the overall concept embodied by them will play a role in your corporate IT strategy sometime soon - so get a head start.

Cellular routers. A cellular router takes in a wireless WAN connection and makes it available to multiple clients on the LAN side. Often, the LAN connections are not just 10/100M bit/sec Ethernet-wired connections, but include an 802.11 connection, as well. Key applications include landline backup (important for keeping those credit card swipe machines operating during the holidays), telemetry (fleet management now can be more interactive and video-enabled) and other fixed wireline applications. Key vendors include broadband wireless companies, such as Kyocera, and start-ups, such as Junxion. Pricing starts around $500 (plus PC card and monthly service expense) and goes up. I like Junxion's approach thus far, because it's not hard-wired for a particular carrier. Just plug in any broadband carrier's wireless data network PC card, and you've got an instant hot spot wherever you are. While wired consumers, like me, will want one of these in their car right away, firms will use them to extend their Wi-Fi infrastructure to more roaming platforms. Google reportedly uses cellular routers on its regional campus buses to maintain Wi-Fi-driven connectivity for employees between buildings. You'll want to plan for how broadband data services from the cellular providers mesh with your internal applications. It's also a lot easier and more cost-effective to start with a shared data service application such as a cellular router-driven data application. These initial products reflect second-generation experience in broadband data and are quite useful in many current applications. Try one, you'll like it.