For my previous roadtrip, I handed out t-shirts that were supposed to look similar to a game jersey. But, on the back, rather than my old #14 or ocho cinco or whatever, the jersey had the number 802.11. To the nerdoratti of the world that is the universal IEEE designation for Wi-Fi.

Well … this week, figuratively, I am wearing a new jersey. This week the number on the shirt is 802.16 – the number of WiMAX. In laymen’s terms, you might say it is Wi-Fi on steroids.

So while there are benchmark examples of the previous Ping travels on this blog, this week PingWi-Fi is focused on the future … the future of wireless at the WiMAX World 2008 show in Chicago.

But first, the trip to Chicago …

It began at 4:30 a.m., but I hopped up ready to go and collect trade show trinkets, meet other writers and learn about new technology. I learned something as soon as I reached DFW International Airport. There was a Samsung “Enjoy Your Mobile Life” lounge at my United Airlines gate. I slipped on in, pulled up a pleather easy chair and took a big draw off the Internet pipe. Naturally there were sweet Samsung HD sets decorating the walls, amidst the funky feng shui drift wood tree sculptures. Oh … I couldn’t have scripted this any better. As I fired up the laptop, that AT&T ad aired … the one where the fatherly, roving reporter says in a broadcast voice: “I’ve just found the Internet.” Me too. Me too.

Samsung delivered a safe haven, a nice chair, and they helped me find the Internet – 5 Pings for being there.

Numerous Wi-Fi networks and ad hoc hotspots popped up on my screen. The biggest player was T-Mobile, but alas, I have parted ways with my old provider. However, the T-Mobile splash page invited me to log on using any one of several roaming providers. This day, I signed on thanks to Boingo. ( … Fighting the urge to reference new wave band Oingo Boingo, which I am sure really gets old over at Boingoville.) Hmmm … “I wondered if my flight would be on a Boingo 747?” I digress.

Technically, in the world of sound effects, I think a “boing” is a “ping” that misses the target or something like that … anyway, I was feeling 6 of them thanks to Boingo.

I boarded the United Airways jet, actually an Airbus A320 for the record, and took my seat at the back, hoping for that coveted empty seat next to mine. And hoping I would sneak up on some covert Wi-Fi testing in flight.

Well … so much for great Wi-Fi expectations. No nada on this flight. But, there was a good trade off – leg room. Not only was my row empty, so were the rows in front of me, beside me and behind. Picture me, seated, and about 15 empty seats around me. Dude … it was like I had my own cubicle on an otherwise full plane. The word must be out about my demeanor. Soon two flight attendants joined me back there “by the water cooler.” I have had some bad attendants. This day – jackpot. The two ladies were so nice. They gave me coffee even before the snack Zamboni swept through the aisle of the plane. And they asked the right question: “What are you working on?”

Of course I told them all about PingWi-Fi and asked if they have heard internal news on the future of Wi-Fi at United. “Overseas flights,” they said. And we had a good little chat. Both women are based in Washington, DC. Both have their own Wi-Fi networks – locked down for security (good girls!) – with at least a dozen other access points among their neighbors. It is a Wi-Fi world!

Minor note – the captain on the intercom interrupted to tell us that United is “the only airline that allows passengers to listen in on cockpit transmissions.” Well … dang that’s almost as good as an iPod, isn’t it? I diverted my earbuds to the plane’s sound system, but there was nothing there????? Oh well, I am more than happy to listen to the iPod – most of the time. But this day, my shuffle queued up “If I Had A Rocket Launcher” – not the sort of thing you want to tap your foot to at 40,000 feet. I digress …

United Airlines provided a large work area for me and some nice colleagues – all informed on Wi-Fi – so where is it? – 5 pings.

This Wi-Fi discussion group soon landed at O’Hare problem free. I knew it was going to be a good trip, when my baggage shot out of the baggage handling area F-O-C, “first on carousel.” I grabbed it … and I couldn’t resist. On went the laptop and I immediately accessed the Internet at O’Hare, thanks to a hotspot called Concourse. Actually it was Boingo again. I signed in on their splash page, and ads popped up. There was a Holiday Inn ad and Hertz NeverLost, my old flame from an earlier blog. Smart, these Boingo types.

The pingwi-fi site loaded quickly, looking dapper, despite the blogger flanked by that recurring Cheap Car Rental ad.

I downloaded my e-mail and looked up the phone number for my hotel, the Chicago O’Hare Aloft – and bookmarked the site. Check it out at:

www.starwoodhotels.com/alofthotels/hotels/index.html

More good fortune. The Aloft shuttle van, driven by a guy who calls himself “Old Dan” was just outside. More on Aloft in the next few days.

It is going to be a good trip.

Know what I sayin?