Jose_R.A.M
04-06-2006, 12:29 PM
From Sci-tech-today (http://www.sci-tech-today.com/news/San-Francisco-Goes-Wireless/story.xhtml?story_id=012001C8EYPO)
"San Francisco is one of the most progressive cities in the world and our combined offerings with Google, Motorola, and Tropos Networks will stretch the possibilities of what a mobile network can do for residents, businesses, municipal government, and visitors," said Earthlink spokesperson Jerry Grasso.
http://images.sci-tech-today.com/images/05/double-arrows-1.gif A joint bid by Earthlink and Google to provide a municipal wireless (http://www.newsfactor.com/accuserve/accuserve-go.php?c=3936) http://images.newsfactor.com/images/new/icon-inline-shop.gif (http://www.newsfactor.com/accuserve/accuserve-go.php?c=3936) network for the city of San Francisco was approved by the city's TechConnect Committee on Wednesday, pushing the search giant into the Wi-Fi business in a big way.
The partners plan to offer two levels of wireless broadband service to the city: a free service run by Google that offers transmission speeds of up to 300 Kbps and a higher-grade offering from Earthlink that would run at about 1 Mbps and cost subscribers $20 per month.
The companies plan to install some 1,500 transmitters on light poles, buildings, and towers across the city. Earthlink expects to invest about $10 million to roll out and maintain the system over a 10-year period.
San Francisco also received proposals from Cisco and IBM -- which partnered on a bid submitted under the name SF Metro Connect -- along with MetroFi, NextWLAN, and Razortooth Communications.
Earthlink Claims Lead
"San Francisco is one of the most progressive cities in the world and our combined offerings with Google, Motorola, and Tropos Networks will stretch the possibilities of what a mobile network can do for residents, businesses, municipal government, and visitors," said Earthlink spokesperson Jerry Grasso.
While he could not specify when the system, which will cover some 47 square miles, will be rolled out, Grasso did say that the city's decision proves that Earthlink has the technology that municipalities prefer.
"We have established a leadership position in efforts to bridge the digital divide," Grasso said, noting that Earthlink is in the process of building similar systems in Philadelphia and Anaheim, California, and has presented bids in Portland, Oregon, Arlington, Virginia, and Minneapolis, Minnesota.
Public Wi-Fi access is indeed growing more popular, with MuniWireless.com reporting last year that there were nearly 40 citywide wireless broadband systems up and running in the U.S., with 34 planned deployments around the country.
Google's Wi-Fi Strategy
Google already is poised to launch free Wi-Fi service on its home turf, recently inking a five-year agreement with the city of Mountain View, California.
IDC analyst Jonathan Gaw suggested that, in the long run, Google stands to benefit from expanding Internet access by drawing more users to its search site and other Internet services.
"If broadband access is available everywhere at a low price, or for free, it means more money for the company through greater interest among advertisers," he said.
While Google has no interest in becoming an Internet service provider, the analyst noted, it can help push Wi-Fi technology forward.
"San Francisco is one of the most progressive cities in the world and our combined offerings with Google, Motorola, and Tropos Networks will stretch the possibilities of what a mobile network can do for residents, businesses, municipal government, and visitors," said Earthlink spokesperson Jerry Grasso.
http://images.sci-tech-today.com/images/05/double-arrows-1.gif A joint bid by Earthlink and Google to provide a municipal wireless (http://www.newsfactor.com/accuserve/accuserve-go.php?c=3936) http://images.newsfactor.com/images/new/icon-inline-shop.gif (http://www.newsfactor.com/accuserve/accuserve-go.php?c=3936) network for the city of San Francisco was approved by the city's TechConnect Committee on Wednesday, pushing the search giant into the Wi-Fi business in a big way.
The partners plan to offer two levels of wireless broadband service to the city: a free service run by Google that offers transmission speeds of up to 300 Kbps and a higher-grade offering from Earthlink that would run at about 1 Mbps and cost subscribers $20 per month.
The companies plan to install some 1,500 transmitters on light poles, buildings, and towers across the city. Earthlink expects to invest about $10 million to roll out and maintain the system over a 10-year period.
San Francisco also received proposals from Cisco and IBM -- which partnered on a bid submitted under the name SF Metro Connect -- along with MetroFi, NextWLAN, and Razortooth Communications.
Earthlink Claims Lead
"San Francisco is one of the most progressive cities in the world and our combined offerings with Google, Motorola, and Tropos Networks will stretch the possibilities of what a mobile network can do for residents, businesses, municipal government, and visitors," said Earthlink spokesperson Jerry Grasso.
While he could not specify when the system, which will cover some 47 square miles, will be rolled out, Grasso did say that the city's decision proves that Earthlink has the technology that municipalities prefer.
"We have established a leadership position in efforts to bridge the digital divide," Grasso said, noting that Earthlink is in the process of building similar systems in Philadelphia and Anaheim, California, and has presented bids in Portland, Oregon, Arlington, Virginia, and Minneapolis, Minnesota.
Public Wi-Fi access is indeed growing more popular, with MuniWireless.com reporting last year that there were nearly 40 citywide wireless broadband systems up and running in the U.S., with 34 planned deployments around the country.
Google's Wi-Fi Strategy
Google already is poised to launch free Wi-Fi service on its home turf, recently inking a five-year agreement with the city of Mountain View, California.
IDC analyst Jonathan Gaw suggested that, in the long run, Google stands to benefit from expanding Internet access by drawing more users to its search site and other Internet services.
"If broadband access is available everywhere at a low price, or for free, it means more money for the company through greater interest among advertisers," he said.
While Google has no interest in becoming an Internet service provider, the analyst noted, it can help push Wi-Fi technology forward.