Category: Commentary

With technologies like mobile WiMAX starting to emerge, some people are starting to ask whether there's a long-term future for public Wi-Fi. Via [informationweek.com]

What happens when your Wi-Fi products and services supplier suddenly shutters its business? Via [redherring.com]

San Francisco's plan for citywide Wi-Fi ran into some friction Friday from a local regulatory agency. Via [infoworld.nl]

Wireless data networks are being installed free of charge in cities across the nation. But Boston, a city with a reputation for innovation and more than twice the population of some cities already luring big WiFi investments, isn't among them. Via [boston.com]

A growing number of products are being outfitted with WLAN connectivity for the upcoming end-of-year buying frenzy. Most of these items are now limited to the high-end of the market but those willing to spend the extra money will find plenty of choices. Via [technewsworld.com]

New York City lawmakers are taking a long, hard look at using 802.11-based Wi-Fi or some other technology to get the city's roughly 8 million citizens access to broadband. Via [news.com.com]

Philadelphia's wireless Internet for the masses initiative has given big telecommunications firms fits, but it has also won another plaudit for city chief information officer Dianah Neff. Via [philly.com]

If nothing else, 2005 was an entertaining year for many a town, city or even county -- though the entertainment sometimes came at the expense of incumbent telecommunications companies. Via [govtech.net]

Many analysts feel that it will be only a matter of time before other states join Nevada in adopting laws to accommodate gambling in casinos with WiFi devices. In fact, Aimee Marcel, gaming analyst at Jefferies & Co. recently said: " This has the potential to be a huge growth vehicle for the manufacturers." Via...

Kurt Peterson knows how to pick his Wi-Fi. "I go anywhere I can get it for free," he says. "Why should I pay? Enough people do it for free." Via [usatoday.com]

The real question in the Netgear class action case is why it only applied to NetGear, given the absurd figures quoted by all Wi-Fi hotspot providers. Via [theregister.co.uk]

If your company has any interest in wireless data, you’ve likely heard about WiMax, the 802.16 wireless metropolitan-area network standard. Quite possibly you’ve even been put off by the hype surrounding this new technology, especially since WiMax standardized products have yet to even hit the market. Via [wi-fiplanet.com]

British Telecom continued to play the coquette regarding its stance on the WiMAX standard, telling a conference here that it was now investigating the upcoming "nomadic" or mobile version. Via [extremetech.com]

Should the UK offer free wireless internet access everywhere and to everyone? If one council, such as Islington, can do it, should the rest of the councils - or central government - follow its lead? Via [silicon.com]

If Mayor Gavin Newsom's proposal to bring low-cost WiFi to the entire city is such a great idea, why is he keeping the details secret? And why, if this is going to benefit anyone other than well-off people who want to use their laptops all over town, is he relying on big Silicon Valley firms...