The ability to connect through a wireless modem/PCMCIA card is just as variable as through a cell phone -- you have no guarantee that a particular spot will conenct reliably. But it is advancing steadily and road warriors cope with the variables and make it happen every day. A cell phone per se won't fill the bill unless it ALSO has a cellular modem. It does not have to be infrared -- that is one way to transfer data from your laptop to a modem (wireless or not). But you can get wireless modems which are hooked up to your computer directly and physically (wires or a card-slot).

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