FON vs Phone

I've been continuing to analyze the skyhook data, looking at the existing US wifi infrastructure to see what else could be done with it, what problems it represents, how it could be better, what issues might it represent (security, privacy, etc.) and how we could use the technology to reach ever more people.

One company that is utilizing this infrastructure is FON (www.fon.com), a Spanish company that has set out to change the way our existing (and growing) wifi networks provide access by building a community that shares their wifi connections. They now state that they have over 68,000 'foneros' -- people who have enabled their wifi routers (either upgraded their firmware or purchased a fon router). 68,000, not a bad start, but definitely on the right track.

Now, there are issues with their plan, but it could work. In fact this was something that was contemplated by a colleague of mine several years ago, but we couldn't see a way to get past the ISPs in the US -- It looks like it was easier to start in Europe and move into the US than to start here -- that or they just have bigger Euros than we did...

But clearly there is a lot of infrastructure that is being underutliized -- I think of this similar to the SETI@Home effort -- how to put to use all of those wasted bandwidths, only in this case the idea is if you give a little, you get a little, rather than just for the sake of finding errant signals in the sky. Hmm...I guess it is more similar than I thought, as both are looking for particular signals...okay that may be a stretch....

Nonetheless, I find it interesting to think about the various wifi networks that we are building -- home, shared, municipal, community, business, region, public transport, airport, etc. and how all of these are related and/or different. If we were going to do it from scratch, is this really the way we would do it? Is there a better way? What would it look like? And where should we (personal, community, metro, international) be investing to provide better access to everybody?

Getting back to FON, should this mode of operation be promoted or controlled? Currently, it is likely against all ISP providers' rules to actually join FON and open your DSL or other broadband connection to 'outsiders'. Most agreements forbid such behavior (remember when they specified a single computer -- and even what type of computer could be connected to the network?!? My first cable modem provider (Cablevision) had some silly notion along those lines back in '98).

How should metro-scale wifi networks be regulated, promoted, stopped, changed, directed? What is going to happen with our spectrum and how do these millions of APs affect each other. At what density do they detract from service? How do we know if an area is ready for metro-scale wifi networks? What applications will drive adoption? How does wifi help those who can't afford a computer? How does WiMAX play with wifi? How does/should the wifi/cellular relationship play out?

And that's just a couple of questions that are bouncing around. Maybe I'll continue this with a bit more on the technical side next...

Kipp