WiFi

Poor, seniors to get free WiFi in 'Frisco

Jim Barthold — Wed, 17 Sep 2008 10:37:17 -0400

Just when it seemed the free muni-WiFi model was dead, buried, kaput, outtahere, Meraki resurfaced at a press conference with San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom to say it would team up with the city to bring free Internet access to 12 low-income housing projects in the Tenderloin as well as provide free WiFi to senior centers throughout the city by the end of the year.

Meraki is building a citywide network it hopes to complete by 2009. About 150,000 of the city's 860,000 residents use the network, according to the mayor. Currently, the network covers about 10 to 13 square miles, which is a fraction of San Francisco's proposed 49-square-mile free WiFi deal but it's a big jump over the 3 square miles Meraki covered about six months ago.

Meraki is not an ISP, it's a hardware company that makes WiFi equipment and gives away its small WiFi repeaters and network gateways to residents who volunteer to deploy the equipment on rooftops or on their windowsills to create a wireless mesh. In exchange for mounting the gear, Meraki picks up the tab for the Internet service and provides free access through the wireless network to anyone without advertising. In neighborhoods where Meraki is deployed people can access the network while walking down the street or they get a repeater for in-home coverage. Meraki, as the network operator, provides support for the service. Not altogether surprisingly, Meraki has no plans to replicate its completely free WiFi network in other cities.

For more:
- see this article

Related article:
San Fran Mayor says citywide WiFi will be a reality. Article

Carriers may subsidize Dell's new netbook for 3G, WiFi service contracts

Phil Goldstein — Fri, 05 Sep 2008 10:52:20 -0400

Carriers such as AT&T, T-Mobile USA and Sprint may soon be subsidizing the cost of Dell's new Inspirion Mini-9 notebook when customers sign a long-term wireless service contract.

Though unconfirmed, Dell CEO Michael Dell predicted earlier this week that the move would happen soon, and John Thode, Dell's VP of small-screen consumer devices, said the announcement of such a deal would be forthcoming. The move would turn the traditional model of carriers subsidizing the cost of handsets and transfer it to ultra-mobile PCs, an untested market which brings its own risks and rewards.

For more:
- see this article

Related articles:
T-Mobile joins 'free laptop' parade
Study shows untapped mobile broadband PC market

Cablevision completes first-phase of WiFi network

Sue Marek — Thu, 04 Sep 2008 11:01:25 -0400

Cablevision Systems has finished the first phase of its WiFi network in New York and says it is on track to complete the project in two years. The cable operator is offering WiFi free to its 2.4 million broadband customers.

The WiFi network is expected to cost the company about $310 million. Initially the network is intended to allow people to access the Internet, however Cablevision has said that it will eventually offer other services including voice and video.

For more:
- see this news report

Related articles:
Cablevision will launch WiFi network this fall
Cablevision's answer to WiMAX: WiFi

HP to buy Colubris Networks

Sue Marek — Mon, 11 Aug 2008 11:31:28 -0400

Hewlett Packard's Procurve Networking Division is buying enterprise WLAN firm Colubris Networks. Colubris specializes in public-access applications, most notably in the hospitality industry. Terms of the deal were not disclosed.

The acquisition will give HP a higher profile in the WLAN space and provide instant access to 802.11n products, which HP doesn't have in its Procurve product line. In addition, the deal will ultimately give HP a broader unified wired/wireless product line, which is important in closing the big deals.

For more:
- see this NetworkWorld article

Related articles:
HP releases kit to unify business networks
Colubris raises $14 million

Delta offers inflight WiFi

Sue Marek — Tue, 05 Aug 2008 12:24:11 -0400

Delta Airlines will soon be offering inflight WiFi access on 330 domestic aircrafts. The company will be offering Aircell's Gogo service for $9.95 on flights of three hours or less and $12.95 on flights of more than three hours.

Delta will equip more than 200 of its Boeing 737, 757, 767-300 aircraft by mid-2009. By the summer of 2009, it will have more than 330 aircraft equipped with the service. The Gogo service will let Delta customers with WiFi-enabled laptops, smartphones and PDAs access the Internet, corporate VPNs and email.

For more:
- see this press release

Related article:
Aircell chooses LTE for in-flight broadband

Cablevision will launch WiFi network this fall

Sue Marek — Fri, 01 Aug 2008 11:30:09 -0400

Cable operator Cablevision says that it will launch its extensive WiFi network this fall in its operating region, which includes parts of New Jersey, Connecticut and New York. The network, which will cost in excess of $300 million, will be available to Cablevision broadband Internet subscribers for free.

During the company's earnings call yesterday with investors, Cablevision COO Tom Rutledge said that the company spent $20 million between May and the end of June building the WiFi network, which it will unveil soon. Although initially the network is intended to allow people to access the Internet, Cablevision has said that it will eventually offer other services including voice and video.

For more:
- see this article

Related stories:
Cablevision adding subs, offering WiFi, losing money
Cablevision's answer to WiMAX: WiFi

Motorola buys WiFi security firm

Sue Marek — Tue, 29 Jul 2008 12:54:57 -0400

Motorola is acquiring WiFi security firm AirDefense. The privately held firm makes software that lets corporations secure their networks and comply with regulatory and industry standards. AirDefense was founded in 2001 and its customers include 800 government agencies and several blue chip corporations. The company, which is based in Alpharetta, Ga., will become a wholly owned subsidiary of Motorola and will be integrated into the company's Enterprise Mobility business. The deal is expected to close within the next few months.

For more:
- see this article

Related article:
Motorola restructures--again

AT&T dangles free WiFi carrot in front of iPhone users (again)

Lynnette Luna — Mon, 21 Jul 2008 02:36:07 -0400

Is there some serious internal conflict going on at AT&T? The company keeps dangling the prospect of offering its iPhone users free WiFi access at its 17,000 hotspots only to yank it back again. Last week, headlines were buzzing about the the fact that the company posted a Web page promoting free WiFi access for iPhone users at its hotspots. By the end of the week, the Web page was pulled, and AT&T media relations folks said it was a mistake. They won't provide any reason for the snafu or even whether the company will be offering such a service in the future.

Here's what the notice said on the company's Web site before it was pulled. "AT&T knows WiFi is hot, and free WiFi even hotter, which is why we are proud to offer iPhone customers free access to the nation's largest WiFi hotspot network with more than 17,000 hotspots, including Starbucks. Now users can relax and access music, email, and Web browsing services with their favorite blend in hand from the comfort of their favorite location."

The strange thing is that this isn't the first time AT&T launched such an offering and then pulled it back. Back in May, just hours after posting information that told iPhone users they would receive free access to AT&T's public WiFi hotspots, the company pulled all references to the service from its website. People were actually using the free service for a while before it went dark.

This latest snafu has to be an embarrassment for the company. News outlets are skewering AT&T for its handling of the situation. And rightly so since the company puts even more confusion in the air by saying no comment or even acknowledging that a plan is in the works. And it's certainly hard to believe the same mistake could be made twice, but maybe there continues to be some major internal struggle with those who still believe that WiFi could cannibalize the company's 3G business. Rogers in Canada, which has been the stingiest among the world's operators when it comes to its data pricing plans for the iPhone 3G and thereby raising the ire of thousands of Canadians, even offers free WiFi to its iPhone customers.

On another note, entities concerned about the FCC's potential approval of white-space devices, those who use wireless microphones, are busy inviting the agency to various events to make sure the devices don't interfere with their operations. Hey, if the FCC plays its cards right, folks working at the FCC's Office of Engineering and Technology (OET) could score some nice freebies to some prime events around the country.

The latest invitation came from the Grammy Awards organization (also known as the Recording Academy), which invited the OET to test for interference at an "entertainment venue." So it wants to help coordinate an FCC visit to the Lollapalooza Festival in Chicago on Aug. 1, according to the letter it sent to the FCC. In June, ESPN and the NFL invited the FCC to field test white-space devices under "real world" conditions during the 2008-2009 football season. They further offered to hold testing at the Baltimore Raven's M&T Bank Stadium and the Washington Redskin's FedExField in Landover, Md., which are close to the FCC's headquarters.

Right now the FCC is field testing prototype white-space devices in residential areas and at least one sport's venue. Will the results be enough to allay the concerns of those entities who are worried about white-space interference with wireless microphones? Or will the FCC have to take these folks up on their offer? It will be interesting to see how far the FCC will be willing to go to make opponents of white-space operations, such as the National Association of Broadcasters, feel better. --Lynnette

Beijing to get citywide WiFi

Sue Marek — Thu, 26 Jun 2008 12:04:38 -0400

Beijing, China, will be getting a citywide WiFi system just in time for the 2008 Summer Olympics. Chinacomm Communications has deployed the first of a three-phase system to blanket the city with WiFi coverage. The first phase covers 100-square kilometers and was launched yesterday. Eventually the system will have 9,000 access points in public areas and 150 base stations providing service to more than 90 percent of Beijing. Story

T-Mobile adds to its HotSpot@Home lineup

Sue Marek — Mon, 23 Jun 2008 11:19:54 -0400

T-Mobile USA is increasing its portfolio of handsets that work with its HotSpot@Home UMA service, which provides unlimited nationwide calling over any WiFi connection. The Samsung t339 has a red finish and a thin form factor. Besides its WiFi capability, the phone has Bluetooth, a 1.3 megapixel camera, a music player and instant messaging capability. The second device, the Nokia 6301, has the look and feel of a home phone with a standup charger so customers can dock the device. It also has a 2-megapixel camera and stereo Bluetooth. See a slideshow of the new phones here.

The operator has said that it hopes to have at least 10 devices available for HotSpot@Home subscribers. The additional two devices increases its portfolio to eight.

For more:
- see this press release

Related stories:
Wi-Fi Alliance focuses on driving WiFi enabled devices Report on WiFi devices
T-Mobile adds landline service to HotSpot-at-Home Report on T-Mobile's UMA service

San Fran Mayor says citywide WiFi will be a reality

Sue Marek — Thu, 12 Jun 2008 12:14:46 -0400

San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom says that citywide WiFi will be a reality and that 144,000 residents will be surfing the Web for free by the end of the year at no cost to the city. Meraki is building the network, donating the service and using San Francisco as a testbed for its products. The company expects it will take 15,000 devices to blanket the city with coverage. Article

MetroFi shutters its service

Sue Marek — Wed, 11 Jun 2008 10:51:00 -0400

The muni-WiFi space took another hit today with news that MetroFi, a WiFi firm that provides free and premium WiFi service informed subscribers in many of its California markets that it will be shutting down its service on June 20. Subscribers are encouraged to remove the MSN SideGuide application from their computers and find another WiFi provider.

The news comes as little surprise. Just last month, MetroFi told The Wall Street Journal that it was having difficulty with the budget restrictions of municipal WiFi projects. MetroFi's biggest project, Portland, Ore., had stalled because of financial troubles. At that time, the company was hoping to sell its networks to the cities it served. If that didn't happen, the company said it would shutter its service in 30 to 60 days.

For more:
- see this San Jose Mercury News story

Related stories:
MetroFi considers sale and end to muni-WiFi projects
MetroFi wants $9M from Portland to finish WiFi

Apple's 3G iPhone arrives

Sue Marek — Mon, 09 Jun 2008 14:57:43 -0400

At Apple's Worldwide Developer Conference today in San Francisco, CEO Steve Jobs finally unveiled the long-anticipated 3G iPhone. The phone will be available July 11 in 22 countries. The price will be as low as $199 for the 8 GB 3G iPhone. The 16 GB device will cost $299.

The 3G device will come with GPS, WiFi and will sport a battery life that provides 5 hours of 3G talk time and 300 hours of standby time. For high-speed browsing, batter life should extend to 5 to 6 hours. Click here to see photos of the device.

"Free" WiFi at Starbucks comes with a price

Sue Marek — Wed, 04 Jun 2008 11:22:31 -0400

Yesterday Starbucks began offering free WiFi to coffee drinkers who visited its Card Reward webpage to either sign up for a $5 rewards card or register an existing gift card. Users who sign up before July 14 get a free drink and everyone who signs up can use two hours of AT&T WiFi in Starbucks shops free every day. The only catch is that Card Reward users have to make a purchase with their card at least once a month.

But this plan was complicated when customers overwhelmed the Card Reward site yesterday causing the company to put up a message saying that they were working on the problem and to please check back later. This morning the site was operational.

This latest offer follows Starbucks' announcement earlier this year that AT&T would start providing WiFi service in Starbucks stores. T-Mobile USA, however, continues to offer the service as well.

For more:
- see this story

Related stories:
T-Mobile USA: WiFi subs can still use Starbucks. Read about T-Mobile's WiFi deal with Starbucks.
Starbucks snubs T-Mobile, signs WiFi deal with AT&T. Read about Starbucks WiFi deal with AT&T

Some AT&T laptop customers get free WiFi

Sue Marek — Thu, 22 May 2008 11:55:05 -0400

AT&T LaptopConnect customers that are on the operator's $59.99 per month or higher data plans will now get access to more than 17,000 WiFi hot spots for free. The carrier announced that LaptopConnect customers will automatically receive a pop-up message alerting them to WiFi availability when they are in range of an AT&T hotspot. Subscribers just have to download the latest version of the AT&T Communications manager software to their laptop to start getting the alerts.

When customers are not in a hot spot area, they will continue to connect via the AT&T HSPA and EDGE network.

For more:
- See this press release

Related stories:
Starbucks ditches T-Mobile's WiFi for AT&T's. See this AT&T story.
AT&T's HSUPA deployment is nearly complete. See this AT&T story.

No deal: Earthlink pulls plug on Philly WiFi

Brian Dolan — Wed, 14 May 2008 11:06:28 -0400

Following up on our report earlier this week, Earthlink has pulled the plug on its $17 million municipal WiFi network in Philadelphia after failing to reach an agreement with the city to take over the network. Originally, reports claimed that Earthlink would give the city until the end of this week to come up with a deal, but now the company says no deal could be reached. City officials told the Wall Street Journal that the network would cost taxpayers millions of dollars each year.

"It's been an unfortunate situation," said Earthlink CEO Rolla Huff. "It was a great idea a few years ago... but it's an idea that simply didn't make it."

Earlier this year Earthlink announced that it was no longer interested in the municipal WiFi business. The Philadelphia network had reached about 80 percent of its build-out. Earthlink has already stepped away from contracts with San Francisco, Houston, New Orleans and others. The only big contract outstanding is now Anaheim, CA, according to Earthlink.

For more on Earthlink pulling the plug:
- read this WSJ report (sub. req.)

Earthlink to Philly: We will pull the plug

Brian Dolan — Mon, 12 May 2008 12:00:51 -0400

Earlier this year Earthlink announced that it was no longer interested in the municipal WiFi business, but after investing $20 million in a metro-wide WiFi network project in Philadelphia back in 2006, the company is still trying to disentangle itself. According to a report in Metro Philadelphia, Earthlink has given the city until the end of the week before it pulls the plug on the WiFi network, which has reach 80 percent of its build-out. Earthlink wants Philadelphia to devise a plan to take over the network or sell it to a third party by week's end. The company already stepped away from contracts with San Francisco, Houston, New Orleans and others. The only big contracts outstanding are Philly and Anaheim, CA, according to Earthlink.

For more on the deal:
- read this article from CNET

Ofcom: No new wireless tech for 20 years

Wed, 07 May 2008 06:59:54 -0400

U.K. regulator Ofcom released a report called Tomorrow's Wireless World, which aimed to inform the government on how the wireless industry should be regulated during the next 20 years. Ofcom's head of research and development, William Webb said that Ofcom does not expect to see any new or different technology released during the next 20 years, but existing wireless technologies will be applied to new devices and services. Healthcare, transportation and food safety were chief among the future wireless services. Ofcom predicted sensors in cars would help prevent crashes or notify emergency services if and when they do and allergy sufferers could receive alerts when food products are unsafe for them. The report found that new spectrum will have to released to accommodate these future services but WiFi and existing cellular technologies will probably support them.

For more:
- read this BBC report

Rumor Mill: AT&T to offer Garmin phone for $500?

Thu, 01 May 2008 06:59:57 -0400

According to a report from Engadget, Garmin and AT&T are considering a $500 price point for the GPS-centric nuvifone plus a two-year contract and $19.99-a-month unlimited data and GPS plan. The 3.5 inch touchscreen phone also includes WiFi and a 3MP camera. The report follows from a Garmin survey that the blog intercepted, which aimed to gauge how interested consumers would be in the phone if offered at that price point.

For more on the nuvifone:
- read the full report at Engadget

Related: Read yesterday's coverage- Can Garmin find a home for nuvifone?

BlackBerry 9000 could see summer launch

Thu, 01 May 2008 06:59:55 -0400

Rumors are swirling around the as-yet-unannounced BlackBerry 9000, which will feature a new BlackBerry OS, called 4.x. Two BlackBerry 9000 units appeared on eBay a few days ago, only to disappear after a few hours (it's unclear whether the auctions ended or if eBay pulled the listings at RIM's insistence). According to the auction listing, the 9000 will feature 3G (HSDPA), EDGE, WiFi and Bluetooth. The Boy Genius Report goes one further, claiming that A-GPS will also be thrown into the mix, along with a microSD card slot and a 2-megapixel camera. The plethora of wireless radios is reportedly leading to battery life expectancy issues. Pending the resolution of those problems, RIM should have this one out the door by July or August.

For more on the BlackBerry 9000:
- see this Engadget article
- and this Boy Genius Report article