Fon Rolls Out Public WiFi Networks at $5 per router
A Spanish company named ‘Fon‘ have started a new service where you can buy a Linksys WRT54GL or Buffalo WHRG54S WiFi router for just $5. If you’ve never heard of Fon before you’ll be surprised to know that they have financial backing from both Google and Skype, and the aim of FON is to create public WiFi networks street by street across the US and Europe.
FON spokesperson Juergen Urbanski told BBC News “Wi-fi is universal in cities, but access isn’t”. Mr Urbanski said that Fon was aiming to have 150,000 WiFi hotspots by the end of the year and as many as one million hotspots by the end of 2007. According to the company, 54,000 people worldwide have already signed up to become so-called ‘foneros’.
The way the system works is that you share you Internet connection with other ‘forneros’. Once you have bought a Fon $5 router, you immediately become a fonero and have the right to connect to other fonero WiFi hotspots using the Fon software provided with every router. By purchasing a router, you have to share your internet connection for 12 months to other Fon users.
The only current problem with Fon is that some USPS are opposing the new technology wave, saying that it violates their Terms and Conditions by sharing your Internet connection with others. However, some ISPs – including Jazztel, Golcalnet, and Labs2 – have actually started supporting the Fon scheme. Fon is currently in talks with other ISPs. Visit their website for more information or to purchase a router.
Via BBC News
A Spanish company named ‘Fon‘ have started a new service where you can buy a Linksys WRT54GL or Buffalo WHRG54S WiFi router for just $5. If you’ve never heard of Fon before you’ll be surprised to know that they have financial backing from both Google and Skype, and the aim of FON is to create public WiFi networks street by street across the US and Europe.
FON spokesperson Juergen Urbanski told BBC News “Wi-fi is universal in cities, but access isn’t”. Mr Urbanski said that Fon was aiming to have 150,000 WiFi hotspots by the end of the year and as many as one million hotspots by the end of 2007. According to the company, 54,000 people worldwide have already signed up to become so-called ‘foneros’.
The way the system works is that you share you Internet connection with other ‘forneros’. Once you have bought a Fon $5 router, you immediately become a fonero and have the right to connect to other fonero WiFi hotspots using the Fon software provided with every router. By purchasing a router, you have to share your internet connection for 12 months to other Fon users.
The only current problem with Fon is that some USPS are opposing the new technology wave, saying that it violates their Terms and Conditions by sharing your Internet connection with others. However, some ISPs – including Jazztel, Golcalnet, and Labs2 – have actually started supporting the Fon scheme. Fon is currently in talks with other ISPs. Visit their website for more information or to purchase a router.
Via BBC News
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