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07 Feb 2006
A Spanish start-up called Fon has attracted a $21.5m investment from investors including Skype and Google to build a global shared Wi-Fi internet access infrastructure.
Fon aims to build a service based on consumers sharing their broadband internet access with other individuals.
Users are required to download a special application to run on their Wi-Fi routers, or purchase a router with the software pre-installed. The application only supports Linksys WRT54GL, WRT54GS and WRT54G routers, but more will be added in the future.
The firmware upgrade creates a second separate network that operates independently from the user's home network to prevent any security breaches. The shared network is configured to use no more than 50 per cent of a user's bandwidth.
The service defines three kinds of users. Non-members who pay to get access to the network are called 'Aliens'. They use the network of 'Bills', people who provide internet access at a fee. A 'Linus' is a user who shares the connection free of charge with other members.
Sharing a broadband internet connection in some cases violates the terms of use, but Fon hopes to gain support from providers through revenue sharing deals.
Martin Varsavsky, the firm's founder, admitted that the service will initially have little appeal, but should get more interesting as more users sign up.
"At the very beginning, when there are no obvious advantages to joining Fon, it is not so easy to get Foneros [users], even though the service is free," he wrote on his blog.
"But as Foneros continue to join, and there are more and more Fonero hotspots, the dream of a unified global broadband wireless signal becomes a reality.
"The Fon movement, as we call it, can achieve what 3G or EVDO has not: a truly broadband wireless internet everywhere. 3G/EVDO are great for coverage, but their throughput is pitiful compared to Wi-Fi and they are way too expensive."
The service has been live in Spain and the US for about 90 days and claims over 3,000 registered access points. An overview of access points mapped out on Google Maps is available here.
The company's website also lists team members in Argentina, France, Germany, Ireland, Israel, Japan, Mexico and Sweden.
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Do you agree?
sharing
Hmm this sharing sounds like it will inflict a financial loss of the consumer who paid. Isn't it like open Wi-Fi in cafe? We need a password to login first before we can connected.
Posted by: CCTV Rumah 27 Jul 2011
Hmm
It's one development among many that could help lead to ubiquitous free wifi, which would bring about a great deal of benefit to the economy and society in my opinion. I can't agree with the previous comment on users not caring about people using their Internet connections as being acceptable; the security aspect alone is reason enough to avoid that, but services like this would be an acceptable alternative. I do see a few ways I think this could be improved though. a) listing hotspots on some directory is an unacceptable trade off between security and convenience, since this basically equates to a list of people's residences. b) get Google onboard to provide ads to enable the service to be free. c) Revenue share with ISPs to gain widespread acceptance - for example, an ISP could offer a "Fon package" or whatever, at a discounted or free rate on the condition you use the supplied router (or an approved alternative) which functions in the way described in the article to allow 50% of your connection to be shared. Users of the shared connection will have Google ads displayed somewhere while they use that connection (ideally without having to install software on their PCs, or at least not anything more than a browser plugin).
Posted by: Anon ymous 02 Aug 2009
Why is this necessary when open Wifi is so widespread?
I took my laptop travelling with me at Christmas, and was amazed just how widespread free, open wireless internet access has become. I rarely had to walk more than 500m to find a good signal. In fact, finding somewhere warm and dry to sit was more of a challenge (I felt like a strange cybertramp, huddled in a doorway with only my $1000 laptop for warmth!). I know you geeks thinks that's because everyone is a "n00b", but firstly that's irrelevant and secondly it's often wrong. The fact is, people don't care about other people using their connection. I don't, and I'm hardly a "n00b". So how could you convince somebody to "secure" their access point? Perhaps: * if the user has download limits imposed by their ISP; * if the connection becomes unusably slow due to many other users; * by pointing out that people might use it to anonymously send spam; * by trying to scare them by telling them somebody might intercept data from their network. Here's a few solutions and counterarguments, taking each of the above in order: * move to a decent ISP that uses traffic prioritisation instead of braindead bandwidth limits, like [http://portal.plus.net/my/mydiscount_info/landing_page.html?WRKUh%2Fz%2FuZ5dXmEjImm%2BIExB10kQh9wcznP33w6kHQw%3D|PlusNet] (in the UK), or modify the router to impose bandwidth limits (eg. per day per MAC address) * add traffic prioritisation to the router (prioritise known MAC addresses over unknown ones) * block outgoing port 25: many routers support this already, although it would be great if I could open it to known MAC addresses * most people just use their wifi to access the 'net, so this point is largely irrelevant, but it would be great if routers could support 'optional' encryption (I know FON sorta acheives this). My point is that you're tackling a problem that doesn't really exist, because there's already lots of free bandwidth floating around, and there'll be even more when our ADSL lines are upgraded - 4 and 8Mbps lines should be rolled out throughout the UK in April. I know mobile wifi usage will soar when we get Wifi phones (and I'm certainly with you there: I'm often happy to stand still to make a free call, and happy to wait until I pass through a hotspot to pick up a video message or TV documentary), but that's still a hell of a lot of phone calls. As I detail above, the public sharing of Wifi could be made a lot better and more secure by some fairly minor firmware tweaks by the manufacturer. Unified login and billing systems just aren't necessary.
Posted by: Orange Jon 08 Feb 2006
sounds limited
HSDPA will come out this year, so why this stupid investment of Google? in my opinion it is a waste of money and energy
Posted by: Marc 07 Feb 2006