Comments on: 5 Years For Nation Wide WiFi http://gigaom.com/2006/03/27/5-years-for-nation-wide-wifi/ Trusted Insights and Conversations on the Next Wave of Technology Thu, 26 Nov 2009 03:26:30 +0000 http://wordpress.com/ hourly 1 By: Vic http://gigaom.com/2006/03/27/5-years-for-nation-wide-wifi/#comment-46451 Vic Fri, 15 Dec 2006 16:07:39 +0000 http://gigaom.wordpress.com/2006/03/27/5-years-for-nation-wide-wifi/#comment-46451 <p>It will happen but it will be closer to 10-12 years, not 4</p> It will happen but it will be closer to 10-12 years, not 4

]]> By: al http://gigaom.com/2006/03/27/5-years-for-nation-wide-wifi/#comment-46450 al Tue, 17 Oct 2006 23:11:21 +0000 http://gigaom.wordpress.com/2006/03/27/5-years-for-nation-wide-wifi/#comment-46450 <p>MetroFi's has some problems:</p> <p>1) Not all webpages are compatible with their free service. MetroFi has known about this problem for at least 2 months but has not fixed it yet.</p> <p>2) Good service requires your antenna to be fairly close to one of their antennas, so coverage even in coverage areas is pretty spotty. You may have problems even if you buy a high gain antenna. It depends on a lot of factors, including weather and traffic.</p> <p>3) Even with a good wifi signal, there may still be bottlenecks to the internet. MetroFi says they are working on this problem, but I suspect that speed and reliability will be a problem for some time to come.</p> <p>Sometimes, though, it works pretty good.</p> MetroFi’s has some problems:

1) Not all webpages are compatible with their free service. MetroFi has known about this problem for at least 2 months but has not fixed it yet.

2) Good service requires your antenna to be fairly close to one of their antennas, so coverage even in coverage areas is pretty spotty. You may have problems even if you buy a high gain antenna. It depends on a lot of factors, including weather and traffic.

3) Even with a good wifi signal, there may still be bottlenecks to the internet. MetroFi says they are working on this problem, but I suspect that speed and reliability will be a problem for some time to come.

Sometimes, though, it works pretty good.

]]> By: Wally Bass http://gigaom.com/2006/03/27/5-years-for-nation-wide-wifi/#comment-46449 Wally Bass Mon, 17 Apr 2006 05:29:04 +0000 http://gigaom.wordpress.com/2006/03/27/5-years-for-nation-wide-wifi/#comment-46449 <p>Whether or not MetroFi can do the electronics part, they don't yet have a viable advertising technology/methodology. They use html frames to merge their ads with whatever page you wanted, and the technique completely breaks the browser's bookmarking function (the encompassing frame, rather than the page you wanted, gets bookmarked). That's not acceptable, and it is not clear that alternative exist that will work within existing browsers.</p> <p>Not only that, but Google has 3 patents on WiFi related advertising that can shut anyone down, if they are upheld. (http://news.com.com/2100-1038_3-6054310.html).</p> Whether or not MetroFi can do the electronics part, they don’t yet have a viable advertising technology/methodology. They use html frames to merge their ads with whatever page you wanted, and the technique completely breaks the browser’s bookmarking function (the encompassing frame, rather than the page you wanted, gets bookmarked). That’s not acceptable, and it is not clear that alternative exist that will work within existing browsers.

Not only that, but Google has 3 patents on WiFi related advertising that can shut anyone down, if they are upheld. (http://news.com.com/2100-1038_3-6054310.html).

]]> By: Ismaël Denis http://gigaom.com/2006/03/27/5-years-for-nation-wide-wifi/#comment-46448 Ismaël Denis Wed, 12 Apr 2006 09:49:40 +0000 http://gigaom.wordpress.com/2006/03/27/5-years-for-nation-wide-wifi/#comment-46448 <p>WiFi networks don't coexist well with each other. This will be one of the main issue. Because having a bad worldwide wireless network, even for free, won't help !</p> WiFi networks don’t coexist well with each other. This will be one of the main issue. Because having a bad worldwide wireless network, even for free, won’t help !

]]> By: Wai Yip Tung http://gigaom.com/2006/03/27/5-years-for-nation-wide-wifi/#comment-46447 Wai Yip Tung Fri, 31 Mar 2006 20:02:34 +0000 http://gigaom.wordpress.com/2006/03/27/5-years-for-nation-wide-wifi/#comment-46447 <p>That's great. I'm looking forward. Can anyone tell me if they have solved the security and eavesdropping issue yet?</p> That’s great. I’m looking forward. Can anyone tell me if they have solved the security and eavesdropping issue yet?

]]> By: Bob http://gigaom.com/2006/03/27/5-years-for-nation-wide-wifi/#comment-46446 Bob Thu, 30 Mar 2006 17:30:41 +0000 http://gigaom.wordpress.com/2006/03/27/5-years-for-nation-wide-wifi/#comment-46446 <p>ooops - typo! I meant implies…</p> ooops – typo! I meant implies…

]]> By: Bob http://gigaom.com/2006/03/27/5-years-for-nation-wide-wifi/#comment-46445 Bob Thu, 30 Mar 2006 17:28:34 +0000 http://gigaom.wordpress.com/2006/03/27/5-years-for-nation-wide-wifi/#comment-46445 <p>The word "everywhere" inplies much more than just urban areas and their suberbs. To truly be useful, WiFi needs to reach the boonies, as well. Only by doing that will it truly overcome the location issue within the "digital divide".</p> The word “everywhere” inplies much more than just urban areas and their suberbs. To truly be useful, WiFi needs to reach the boonies, as well. Only by doing that will it truly overcome the location issue within the “digital divide”.

]]> By: John Cooper http://gigaom.com/2006/03/27/5-years-for-nation-wide-wifi/#comment-46444 John Cooper Wed, 29 Mar 2006 19:15:20 +0000 http://gigaom.wordpress.com/2006/03/27/5-years-for-nation-wide-wifi/#comment-46444 <p>I applaud Mr. Haas for his vision - sure, its self-serving (not many altruists out there), but this debate needs more visionaries like him to challenge our evolutionary, old-world paradigms. Our views of the telecom & IT world, where its going, and how fast it can change should be evolving rapidly, given the growth rate of technological capabilities in this area. </p> <p>On MetroNetIQ.com and WikiMetroNet.com, I'm promoting fresh viewpoints on telecommunications and communities, based on new potentials, not old assumptions and dogma. Given the viral emergent nature of these new technologies and low barriers to entry, I think we all may be surprised at how fast things can change in the next five years.</p> I applaud Mr. Haas for his vision – sure, its self-serving (not many altruists out there), but this debate needs more visionaries like him to challenge our evolutionary, old-world paradigms. Our views of the telecom & IT world, where its going, and how fast it can change should be evolving rapidly, given the growth rate of technological capabilities in this area.

On MetroNetIQ.com and WikiMetroNet.com, I’m promoting fresh viewpoints on telecommunications and communities, based on new potentials, not old assumptions and dogma. Given the viral emergent nature of these new technologies and low barriers to entry, I think we all may be surprised at how fast things can change in the next five years.

]]> By: WiFiNow http://gigaom.com/2006/03/27/5-years-for-nation-wide-wifi/#comment-46443 WiFiNow Wed, 29 Mar 2006 16:30:25 +0000 http://gigaom.wordpress.com/2006/03/27/5-years-for-nation-wide-wifi/#comment-46443 <p>Where cities can build a Wi-Fi network themselves, they will. Where they need assistance from private organizations (they often will), they will look to open access providers such as EarthLink, or free providers such as Google (or in the case of SF, both).</p> <p>New Orleans finally got fed up with the telcos and asked for help from EarthLink - http://www.usatoday.com/money/industries/telecom/2006-03-28-new-orleans-wifi_x.htm</p> Where cities can build a Wi-Fi network themselves, they will. Where they need assistance from private organizations (they often will), they will look to open access providers such as EarthLink, or free providers such as Google (or in the case of SF, both).

New Orleans finally got fed up with the telcos and asked for help from EarthLink – http://www.usatoday.com/money/industries/telecom/2006-03-28-new-orleans-wifi_x.htm

]]> By: Victor Blake http://gigaom.com/2006/03/27/5-years-for-nation-wide-wifi/#comment-46442 Victor Blake Wed, 29 Mar 2006 14:26:57 +0000 http://gigaom.wordpress.com/2006/03/27/5-years-for-nation-wide-wifi/#comment-46442 <p>802.11n will have a very positive effect for whole house coverage and inside of buildings. We don't expect it to significantly impact quality and performance in outdoor (or so called metro wifi) networks.</p> 802.11n will have a very positive effect for whole house coverage and inside of buildings. We don’t expect it to significantly impact quality and performance in outdoor (or so called metro wifi) networks.

]]> By: mark http://gigaom.com/2006/03/27/5-years-for-nation-wide-wifi/#comment-46441 mark Wed, 29 Mar 2006 14:14:09 +0000 http://gigaom.wordpress.com/2006/03/27/5-years-for-nation-wide-wifi/#comment-46441 <p>Well, 802.11n should arrive in 2007. And that could be a major boost. Given its low power mode, it could wind up in just about every mobile device - cellphones, mp3 players, pdas, laptops, etc. That could jumpstart the market. Which then puts the 5 year mark within range, even with the carriers opposed.</p> Well, 802.11n should arrive in 2007. And that could be a major boost. Given its low power mode, it could wind up in just about every mobile device – cellphones, mp3 players, pdas, laptops, etc. That could jumpstart the market. Which then puts the 5 year mark within range, even with the carriers opposed.

]]> By: Greg Jackson http://gigaom.com/2006/03/27/5-years-for-nation-wide-wifi/#comment-46440 Greg Jackson Wed, 29 Mar 2006 13:00:58 +0000 http://gigaom.wordpress.com/2006/03/27/5-years-for-nation-wide-wifi/#comment-46440 <p>I liken what we see happening now across the globe not dissimilar to the 1849 Gold Rush. The carriers have pooh-poohed muni-wifi singularly because they have the most to lose. Since the February 3GSM conference in Barcelona, articles about cities being blanketed with wifi, UMA, wifi/cellular and wifi only handsets are proliferating like bunnies. As I read these articles, it seems that the movement toward ubiquetous wifi is massive & rapid. As an example, in Cincinnati, a city barely showing up in any of the reports, there are at least 2 initiatives already active and well underway. In recent weeks carriers have been announcing their entry into this fray. They have no choice. As it has already been said many times, if you can't beat em, join em. In this scenario, I suspect that many of the traditional telcos balance sheets will suffer substantially in this tranfer of power.</p> I liken what we see happening now across the globe not dissimilar to the 1849 Gold Rush. The carriers have pooh-poohed muni-wifi singularly because they have the most to lose. Since the February 3GSM conference in Barcelona, articles about cities being blanketed with wifi, UMA, wifi/cellular and wifi only handsets are proliferating like bunnies. As I read these articles, it seems that the movement toward ubiquetous wifi is massive & rapid. As an example, in Cincinnati, a city barely showing up in any of the reports, there are at least 2 initiatives already active and well underway. In recent weeks carriers have been announcing their entry into this fray. They have no choice. As it has already been said many times, if you can’t beat em, join em. In this scenario, I suspect that many of the traditional telcos balance sheets will suffer substantially in this tranfer of power.

]]> By: Dennis Evans http://gigaom.com/2006/03/27/5-years-for-nation-wide-wifi/#comment-46439 Dennis Evans Wed, 29 Mar 2006 09:39:02 +0000 http://gigaom.wordpress.com/2006/03/27/5-years-for-nation-wide-wifi/#comment-46439 <p>Sorry I offended you, It was just a teckno joke.</p> Sorry I offended you, It was just a teckno joke.

]]> By: Hank Essay http://gigaom.com/2006/03/27/5-years-for-nation-wide-wifi/#comment-46438 Hank Essay Wed, 29 Mar 2006 07:12:56 +0000 http://gigaom.wordpress.com/2006/03/27/5-years-for-nation-wide-wifi/#comment-46438 <p>Mr. Evans, Vice President Gore never said he invented the internet despite the smears pushed by your ilk. It is a blatant falsehood promoted by hustlers like you. To everyone else, ignore his comment. By pushing this "big lie," it is clear he has no idea what he is talking about in the world of technology. Because anyone who knows anything about the tech world knows they couldn't carry Gore's jockstrap in terms of impact on the internet…So take your trash elsewhere please…</p> <p>-</p> Mr. Evans, Vice President Gore never said he invented the internet despite the smears pushed by your ilk. It is a blatant falsehood promoted by hustlers like you. To everyone else, ignore his comment. By pushing this “big lie,” it is clear he has no idea what he is talking about in the world of technology. Because anyone who knows anything about the tech world knows they couldn’t carry Gore’s jockstrap in terms of impact on the internet…So take your trash elsewhere please…

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]]> By: Dennis Evans http://gigaom.com/2006/03/27/5-years-for-nation-wide-wifi/#comment-46437 Dennis Evans Wed, 29 Mar 2006 00:13:26 +0000 http://gigaom.wordpress.com/2006/03/27/5-years-for-nation-wide-wifi/#comment-46437 <p>The E-RATE has spent billions per year to wire schools/libraries…perhaps another boondoggle [free wireless] could be arranged…isn't that part of the new Democratic 2008 Agenda. A mule and 40 acres covered with Wireless thank to the inventor of the Internet [exVPGore].</p> The E-RATE has spent billions per year to wire schools/libraries…perhaps another boondoggle [free wireless] could be arranged…isn’t that part of the new Democratic 2008 Agenda. A mule and 40 acres covered with Wireless thank to the inventor of the Internet [exVPGore].

]]> By: Chris Messina http://gigaom.com/2006/03/27/5-years-for-nation-wide-wifi/#comment-46436 Chris Messina Tue, 28 Mar 2006 22:42:02 +0000 http://gigaom.wordpress.com/2006/03/27/5-years-for-nation-wide-wifi/#comment-46436 <p>To toot my own horn on this, I strongly believe that this is something that local communities need to band together to bring about… so that the pipes are not owned, leased or monitored solely by corporations, but that the people have access to this kind of connectivity, like public television, no matter their economic status or "monetizability".</p> <p>This requires a process of "munification": http://munified.pbwiki.com</p> To toot my own horn on this, I strongly believe that this is something that local communities need to band together to bring about… so that the pipes are not owned, leased or monitored solely by corporations, but that the people have access to this kind of connectivity, like public television, no matter their economic status or “monetizability”.

This requires a process of “munification”: http://munified.pbwiki.com

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