For those of us serious about ensuring that we are never unplugged, there is always a service, option, device, whatever that can make that a reality. But 2009 is shaping up to be the beginning of a period when the rest of us catch up whether we want to or not, as wireless hot spots finally push their way into transit options in a big time way. And with a major chunk of the public spending a fair amount of time commuting by planes, trains and automobiles it’s about time.

Of course late last year a variety of airlines including Delta, Virgin America, American Airlines and Air Canada announced that they had launched or planned to launch Wi-Fi on a limited number of flights domestically. But most of us working stiffs are not jet setters, so that leaves trains and automobiles, right? Actually, we can expect to see some changes here as well. With regards to trains, California-based broadband provider Wi-Fi Rail Network has recently announced the approval of a contract with the San Francisco Bay Area’s Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) system that will bring high speed Internet to commuters system-wide by the end of 2010. The BART system consists of over a 100 miles of track connected by over 40 stations, linking San Francisco to cities and residential areas north, south and east as well as both the San Francisco and Oakland airports. In tests trains moving up to 85MPH reported consistent connection speeds up to 15mbps based on a signal provided by a network of fiber optic cable laid along the train lines and transmitted to trains every mile. Service is planned on a subscription model estimated to follow a pricing pattern of: Day Passes - $10, Monthly Passes - $30, Annual Passes - $300, with corporate plans eventually available. If this service ends up being profitable, or even break even, which will be the ultimate yardsticks, look for similar plans for comparable rapid transit systems all over the country.

Carpoolers can also expect to see wireless options move beyond GPS services and OnStar soon as well, as dealerships across the country, led by Chrysler’s UConnect Web system, launch hot spot functionality available with new Chysler, Jeep and Dodge models. The MSRP for the UConnect hardware is $450, not including an installation fee and a monthly access fee of about $30. The lament here, which has been repeated many times and in many places will of course be “one more distraction for drivers,” which is true enough, but for those with free and responsible hands who spend hours a day watching traffic from the passenger seat, it could be a godsend. The additional caveat is that the big hit that the auto industry has taken in the current economic downtown could knock this Wi-Fi trend off track. The year is young yet, so only time will tell.

In the meantime check out video below of UConnect Web in action.

Tags: airline wifi, car wifi, commuter wifi, commuting, gadgets, internet, wifi, wireless hot spots