Google has submitted a bid to build a WiFi network in San Francisco, but as it waits that city's decision, the search engine company is planning to build a WiFi network in its own backyard--Mountain View, CA, about 40 miles south of San Francisco where the company has its headquarters. Google has not given details of the plans, and it has not explained how it is going to make money on the scheme. The company will submit a proposal to the Mountain View City Council. The plan calls for placing 300 transmitters on top of street lights and telephone poles, turning the city of 72,000 into a hotzone. If the plan goes forward, then those who enjoy free WiFi will be not only the employees of Google, but those of nearby Mozilla and Microsoft's MSN and Hotmail divisions. The city, by the way, has not asked for any other bids.
For more on Google's Mountain View plan:
- see Rhonda Ascierto's ComputerBusiness report