Saturday, Jan 12th, 2008 Categories: Media, Meraki
ZDNet Australia’s Jo Best asks herself “There’s no such thing as a free lunch, so the old adage goes — but is there such a thing as free Wi-Fi?”, comparing FON to Meraki:
Fon has a slightly different take. Like Meraki, it sells routers to encourage users to pass on their Wi-Fi, but there’s no mesh involved. Fon users — so-called Foneros — offer to make their Wi-Fi available to others. Passers-by in need of a hotspot can buy some time on Foneros’ connections much like they would in a Starbucks or an airport, albeit a bit cheaper. The Fonero and Fon itself then get to split the revenue between them.
Bruce Schneier, security guru, talks about his own open wifi network at home in this Wired article:
“To me, it’s basic politeness. Providing internet access to guests is kind of like providing heat and electricity, or a hot cup of tea. But to some observers, it’s both wrong and dangerous.
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Similarly, I appreciate an open network when I am otherwise without bandwidth. If someone were using my network to the point that it affected my own traffic or if some neighbor kid was dinking around, I might want to do something about it; but as long as we’re all polite, why should this concern me? Pay it forward, I say.
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In my opinion, securing my wireless network isn’t worth it. And I appreciate everyone else who keeps an open wireless network. You all make the world a better place.”
He also talks about legal implications, when people would abuse your connection.
Sydney Morning Herald journalist Nick Galvin peeps into the future and discusses ten things he thinks will change our future, including Mark Pesce’s Mob Rules, and Meraki:
“Put several Merakis together in a neighbourhood and they will instantly form a “mesh” network, giving internet access to anyone in the area. These ‘guerilla’ networks are beginning to spring up in cities around the world, driven by people for whom internet access is a social-equity issue.”
NSW is about to roll out a free Wifi service… Oh wait, that was last years’ news. Did Unwired get picked for the Sydney free Wifi? Nope, as apparently “Complexity delays free Sydney wireless network“. Unwired just introduced their pre-paid plan, which is a nice idea but pretty slow (320k), limited and expensive (starting at 150Mb over 7 days for $10 AUD). If they were to provide the free Wifi, how would that fit in with their business plan? Where does Unwired actually fit into Channel 7’s business plan?
It is pretty easy though, just pick up a Meraki for 49 USD (+ shipping), and hook it up. Then your neighbor does the same. You’ve got a network. Although a business district does need a decent Wifi provider of course, as community Wifi doesn’t provide any warranties for service. And the free Wifi network would seem to be only covering the CBD’s, so that leaves the regular folk out in the cold. So, yes, in the end, we need to do it ourselves.
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Occasionally cared for by Jean-Jacques Halans and the Free Sydney Wireless and Free Australia Wireless communities.
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