Comments on: Cool idea: Google and Wi-Fi http://www.lunaradventures.net/2005/08/16/cool-idea-google-and-wi-fi/ exploring a little bit of everything Fri, 03 Feb 2012 03:54:26 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: Josh http://www.lunaradventures.net/2005/08/16/cool-idea-google-and-wi-fi/comment-page-1/#comment-234 Josh Thu, 18 Aug 2005 20:35:28 +0000 http://www.lunaradventures.net/2005/08/16/cool-idea-google-and-wi-fi/#comment-234 <p>A company awash with capital (Google announced a $4B cash out today, I think) diversifying into the access distribution market, thereby providing the impetus for the industry to settle standards squabbles and basically force healthy competition in an as-yet uncapitalized market? Maybe.</p> <p>Comcast, Verizon, Qwest, etc giving up a business model that allows them to profit handsomely from exclusive demand in favor of a national subscription system? No way. Let's face it, with the recent exeunt of Michael Powell, the FCC is now even less on the side of the consumer.</p> <p>For anyone seriously thinking about stepping foot in this market, the truly glaring issue is the intrinsic complexity of WiFi MANS; I mean really, there isn't even an 80x standard for WiFi AP controllers on the books--not to mention the problems involved in managing such a relatively narrow (and ridiculously crowded) chunk of spectrum.</p> <p>IMO, without some serious elbow grease on the part of the industry (Cisco bought Airespace back in February, so cancel that competitive drive), I think large-scale WiFi clustering or WiFi MANs are somewhere in the future; I just wouldn't bet the farm on the word "near". :)</p> A company awash with capital (Google announced a $4B cash out today, I think) diversifying into the access distribution market, thereby providing the impetus for the industry to settle standards squabbles and basically force healthy competition in an as-yet uncapitalized market? Maybe.

Comcast, Verizon, Qwest, etc giving up a business model that allows them to profit handsomely from exclusive demand in favor of a national subscription system? No way. Let’s face it, with the recent exeunt of Michael Powell, the FCC is now even less on the side of the consumer.

For anyone seriously thinking about stepping foot in this market, the truly glaring issue is the intrinsic complexity of WiFi MANS; I mean really, there isn’t even an 80x standard for WiFi AP controllers on the books–not to mention the problems involved in managing such a relatively narrow (and ridiculously crowded) chunk of spectrum.

IMO, without some serious elbow grease on the part of the industry (Cisco bought Airespace back in February, so cancel that competitive drive), I think large-scale WiFi clustering or WiFi MANs are somewhere in the future; I just wouldn’t bet the farm on the word “near”. :)

]]> By: Eric http://www.lunaradventures.net/2005/08/16/cool-idea-google-and-wi-fi/comment-page-1/#comment-233 Eric Wed, 17 Aug 2005 15:24:13 +0000 http://www.lunaradventures.net/2005/08/16/cool-idea-google-and-wi-fi/#comment-233 <p>I don't see any way the broadband companies will allow total free WiFi access. They have tons of lobbyists on their part on the Hill that enjoy those couple dollars of tax we pay each month.</p> <p>I might be more easily convinced of projecting the broadband companies to institue national subscription based Wifi coverage similar to that of cell phone technologies.</p> I don’t see any way the broadband companies will allow total free WiFi access. They have tons of lobbyists on their part on the Hill that enjoy those couple dollars of tax we pay each month.

I might be more easily convinced of projecting the broadband companies to institue national subscription based Wifi coverage similar to that of cell phone technologies.

]]> By: Zach Reed http://www.lunaradventures.net/2005/08/16/cool-idea-google-and-wi-fi/comment-page-1/#comment-232 Zach Reed Wed, 17 Aug 2005 01:17:39 +0000 http://www.lunaradventures.net/2005/08/16/cool-idea-google-and-wi-fi/#comment-232 <p>I'm with you on the free wi-fi. I'm already satisfied with using Google and Gmail. I can't see how they'd mess this up. I'm still waiting for new light to be shed on the rumored GoogleOS. It's like what I mentioned in my e-mail about switching to Apple: I'd just like to have an alternative to Windows that isn't Linux. Know what I mean? I visited the Apple store in Chicago this past weekend and was very impressed with the iMac and the PowerMac. Guess I'll wait a few months and see if anything happens with GoogleOS before I make my decision. 2006 should be very interesting.</p> I’m with you on the free wi-fi. I’m already satisfied with using Google and Gmail. I can’t see how they’d mess this up. I’m still waiting for new light to be shed on the rumored GoogleOS. It’s like what I mentioned in my e-mail about switching to Apple: I’d just like to have an alternative to Windows that isn’t Linux. Know what I mean? I visited the Apple store in Chicago this past weekend and was very impressed with the iMac and the PowerMac. Guess I’ll wait a few months and see if anything happens with GoogleOS before I make my decision. 2006 should be very interesting.

]]>