Wireless networking has been around for years. Early on, progressive Internet users installed their own wireless Wi-Fi hubs, even though they were slow -- and immediately felt the freedom of being able to send e-mail, surf and download media files from any room.

As the technology got faster, more people jumped on the bandwagon, including whole cities, whose officials saw wireless neighborhoods as a way to stand out from competing communities. But politics and technological limitations have kept Wi-Fi hot spots from taking over our lives.

In the meantime, the cellular providers have been running their own wireless Internet networks, allowing subscribers to take advantage of these large in-place wireless networks to wander, not only through a home or office, but through cities and even when in transit across states. There's a certain joy of using these cell-phone based systems, because you don't have to go searching for a coffee shop that is wired and ready for you. Before cell phone-based Internet, I have chosen my meeting places because the restaurant has free Wi-Fi.

I recently decided to take a look at two cellular Internet connections through similar devices. For several weeks, I used a Sierra AirCard attached to the Sprint network; then I did the same with an AirCard attached to the Verizon Wireless network.

I'm not sure I can fully describe the joy derived by becoming completely untethered while tooling around with a laptop. On a recent trip with my son, we decided to make our hotel reservation in transit instead of in advance. While I was driving the rental car between cities, he was looking up accommodations in the next city using discount travel Web sites. It helped us get the most out of our excursion because we didn't have to plan extra time to make the reservation from our previous night's hotel room. Similarly, it's a happy feeling to not have to scour the listings to find that Wi-Fi hot spot in that unknown area, or go out of my way to get there.

Offerings from Verizon Wireless and Sprint are similar, in that they use the same Sierra card attached to a USB port of your computer. I didn't put together a test suite to determine the exact difference in the speed of the networks, but the two networks seemed to be comparable -- both subject to similar dead spots. The difference was in the software.

The Sprint PCS Connection Manager software has a stylized look and simplicity through a well designed interface. Verizon Wireless' VZAccess Manager software looks like a holdover from previous software generations, and instead of a sleek, simple interface, it offers choice. The Verizon software finds Wi-Fi hot spots and other cell phone-based connections that are available through your Wi-Fi card. It even found the Sprint network -- as if the card attached to my system was the Sprint card that I had previously installed. VZAccess Manager also lets you directly launch your e-mail or Web software, as well as other applications.

The real distinction is less between the two cell-based services as it is between cell-based service and Wi-Fi. With either AirCard, I was able to find Internet connections in buildings where the Wi-Fi wasn't behaving properly, making it less risky to endeavor into new environments. And the sweet freedom of Internet anywhere is a feeling that needs to be experienced.

If you're a good shopper, you should be able to find the Sierra AirCard for free from cell carriers.