[IP] Microsoft Enters Municipal Wi-Fi Realm
Begin forwarded message:
From: Bob Frankston <Bob19-0501@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Date: November 15, 2006 3:46:37 PM EST
To: dave@xxxxxxxxxx
Subject: Microsoft Enters Municipal Wi-Fi Realm
I find this whole advertising-based Wi-Fi to be problematic. It isn’t
really the Internet as I can’t use it to connect things. It’s really
the Internet channel on television paid for by advertising – does
that mean that my heart monitor will need to watch some ads or do I
pay $20/month/device/relationship?
I’m still waiting for cities to finance their water systems the same
way – Coca Cola is free but for $20/month/faucet you can get water
without flavoring and without carbonation.
Sorry, just thinking about it brings to mind even more silly things
Parks with pay-per-stroll (http://www.frankston.com/?Name=Sidewalks)
The air is free but breathing is expensive? (Sort of like spectrum
allocation – creating billable events by licensing the use of numbers)
http://setup1.wsj.com/pznsetup/sub/pznhome/setup.html
Microsoft Enters Municipal Wi-Fi Realm
Associated Press
November 15, 2006 9:20 a.m.
PORTLAND, Ore. -- Microsoft Corp. said it will partner with MetroFi
Inc. to build a free wireless Internet service for Oregon's largest
city.
MetroFi announced it will launch the Wi-Fi service in Pioneer
Courthouse Square, a popular gathering place in downtown Portland, by
the end of the year and expand it to the rest of the city within two
years.
Microsoft will provide locally focused MSN content and advertising
through its new online platform, adCenter. The platform, designed to
compete with Google Inc., allows advertisers to target users based on
their browsing habits and data such as gender, age and location.
. . . blah blah . . .
The new system will eventually cover 95% of the city. MetroFi will
pay to create and maintain the system. The Mountain View, Calif.-
based company said the service will be maintained through advertising
revenue. Users can opt for advertising-free service for $20 a month.
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