Web browsing on the go has definitely improved, thanks to the efforts of Apple and Android. But what's the point of having the huge beautiful screens of the iPhone and G1 when there's no 3G or Wifi access? I guess one could be patient, waiting for the Internet to show up via the pokey slow cell-phone network. Of course that's as much fun as watching paint dry.

No thanks. When it comes to basic info, I rely on Google SMS. Just by texting GOOGLE (466453 on the keypad), I've got local addresses, weather forecasts, flight status updates, directions, movie info and more at my disposal in mere moments. No more worrying about flash-based splashiness daunting my phone when I just need the address of a new restaurant or clicking through page after page to get the weather report.

Is there a learning curve? Yeah, but like so much of Google's offerings, the user experience follows the KISS protocol ("Keep It Simple, Stupid"). And it's incredibly robust for a text-only tool. I've been using Google SMS for a while now for weather and addresses, and even I had no idea what else I could do with this service. For example, texting "stock IBM" or "translate bathroom in Spanish" gives me easy and quick access to the info I need.

Seriously, do yourself a favor and get familiar with this service. The features and texting protocol can be found here.