I'd really like to see this happen, and have cell phone providers start going towards the direction of cable companies slowly losing monopoly over their content.<p>Unfortunately, it will be quite some time before several major hurdles are removed before carriers are out of the picture:<p>* Infrastructure. You would need a major WiMax installation covering your city. I'm lucky if I find a reliable hotspot now at Startbucks.<p>* 911 access. It will be some time before WiFi is reliable enough to handle all 911 calls.<p>* Standard messaging/SMS platform. Most non-carrier messaging methods need the same platform running on both ends (BBM, iMessenger, WhatsApp, etc.). While it's overpriced per MB, but does work pretty much everywhere.<p>Unless law forbids it, carriers will get creative and
charge extra for these essential services to keep their bottom line going (i.e. AT&T $2 forced long distance fee).