Comments on: MetroFi Teams With AT&T for Muni WiFi http://gigaom.com/2006/07/20/metrofi-teams-with-att-for-muni-wifi/ Sat, 18 May 2013 09:10:58 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.com/ By: Marty Hahnfeld http://gigaom.com/2006/07/20/metrofi-teams-with-att-for-muni-wifi/#comment-120658 Thu, 27 Jul 2006 17:22:15 +0000 http://gigaom.wordpress.com/2006/07/20/metrofi-teams-with-att-for-muni-wifi/#comment-120658 Some bias here as MetroFi is a customer of mine, however I need to take exception to the “MetroFi has been viewed as a laggard in the space” comment… um, By whom exactly?

Let’s see… they have basically pioneered the Ad-supported Free service tier model in the MuniFi space (yes, I know Google probably started it with their original SF chatter, but MetroFi put it in play before anybody else).

They have arguably the largest operating WiFi mesh network in existance — located in the valley, the only comparable in size is Tempe which is a disaster by comparison and MobilePro is running away from their awards.

They service 10′s of thousands of users on the network successfully and with a good (and getting better) user experience.

They have been winning most competitive situations they enter.

They have attracted Tier-1 venture capital money, while no other pure-play in the game has either had to or been successful at it. (ie – there is confidence in their ability to turn a profit and succeed).

They have now attracted and partnered with the largest communications provider in the land.

Yup… sounds really “laggard-like” to me…

]]> By: Richard Stevens http://gigaom.com/2006/07/20/metrofi-teams-with-att-for-muni-wifi/#comment-120657 Sat, 22 Jul 2006 15:20:14 +0000 http://gigaom.wordpress.com/2006/07/20/metrofi-teams-with-att-for-muni-wifi/#comment-120657 I beg to differ. AT&T has a long history of partnering with “new comers” in new areas they consider a threat to their core business, only to “squeeze them” out of existence at later date. Who can forget AtHome?

]]> By: Jesse Kopelman http://gigaom.com/2006/07/20/metrofi-teams-with-att-for-muni-wifi/#comment-120654 Fri, 21 Jul 2006 20:45:16 +0000 http://gigaom.wordpress.com/2006/07/20/metrofi-teams-with-att-for-muni-wifi/#comment-120654 Why does this put a crimp in Earthlink’s plans? I would say it instead validates them. Competition is a pretty good indicator of potential for profit. Anyway, it’s not like any single company was going to run every single municipal wireless network that got built in the entire country. Well, at least not without many rounds of M&A activity.

]]> By: akbar http://gigaom.com/2006/07/20/metrofi-teams-with-att-for-muni-wifi/#comment-120656 Fri, 21 Jul 2006 17:34:14 +0000 http://gigaom.wordpress.com/2006/07/20/metrofi-teams-with-att-for-muni-wifi/#comment-120656 Looks like its time for the rebel forces to start searching for r2 units and get to work on figuring out how to take down the deathstar.

It is telling that this is announced only a few days after MetroFi got the greenlight for the city planners of Portland to do up that city with spectrum squashing wifi.

Everyone with exisiting wifi networks in Portland must be woindering if they should rename the city to Alderan.

CmdAkbar (retired)

]]> By: chris http://gigaom.com/2006/07/20/metrofi-teams-with-att-for-muni-wifi/#comment-120655 Fri, 21 Jul 2006 17:02:04 +0000 http://gigaom.wordpress.com/2006/07/20/metrofi-teams-with-att-for-muni-wifi/#comment-120655 wait… AT&T, aka the deathstar, has partnered to build a municipal wifi network??

i thought all AT&T knew how to do was beg the government for permission to eliminate competition.

]]> By: KING TROLL http://gigaom.com/2006/07/20/metrofi-teams-with-att-for-muni-wifi/#comment-120653 Fri, 21 Jul 2006 12:50:34 +0000 http://gigaom.wordpress.com/2006/07/20/metrofi-teams-with-att-for-muni-wifi/#comment-120653 Hey bro, I really like your articles in business 2.0. I just found your blog and will be adding it to my daily reading list.

I’ll be clicking on a few ads per day to , toshow my support!

]]>