Scott’s Weblog

FON - Free WiFi Anywhere(ish)

February 1st, 2007

Go check out FON. What a cool idea. Basically if you share your WiFi, you’ll get free access to other Fonero’s (members of the FON community) WiFi. You can either buy a FON WiFi “social” router straight from their website, or if you’ve got a compatible router (such as the Linksys WRT54G) you can download a customised version of OpenWRT and roll your own FON AP.

The APs broadcast two ESSID’s, one for your private WiFi network, and another that others can connect to after authenticating as part of the FON community. One of the really cool things about it is that you’ve got different types of Fonero. For example, a “Linus” will give away free WiFi to other Foneros, and in return gets free roaming to other FON APs. An “Alien” is someone who isn’t part of the FON community, but they can still use the FON network by buying a day pass for 3 euros. Finally, a “Bill” can forego the free roaming side of things and instead opt for a 50% cut of the money that Aliens pay to access the network through their AP.

FON’s got some pretty major investment partners too. They’ve partnered with Skype to launch a WiFi handset that will allow free Skype calls from FON APs. Google’s in as well, although it’s not clear what they are offering, besides money. Google does run some fairly large WiFi networks IIRC, so it’s possible those will turn into FON AP’s as well.

Of course, there’s the obligatory Web 2.0 mash-up, where you can bring up a Google Maps interface and find FON APs around the globe. I had a quick look and there don’t seem to be any in Oceania at all.

Unfortunately I can’t really see the relevance of this in a place like Hamilton. Free WiFi would work in built-up cities that consist of nothing but high-rise apartments, but who’s going to want to sit outside my house in Hamilton East and use my FON AP? It’s not like there’s a nice cafe close enough to sit and swill coffee while you surf. Most New Zealand towns just don’t have the population density to support it. Then again, that might be a good thing. Open up a FON AP, watch as no one uses your monthly data allowance and then get access to free FON points around the world. Now all I need to do is travel. At least I know I’ll be able to get WiFi when I next visit Muscat, Oman.

Hmm…

Entry Filed under: General