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Aerie Networks to Reactivate Ricochet Service?
JimDog writes: "Aerie Networks is apparently buying the assets and IP of Metricom's Ricochet service and plans to reactivate it in at least some of the former coverage areas. A more detailed press release in PDF format is available here." There might be some hope for Ricochet addicts after all.
Let's just hope that Aerie comes to its senses and doesn't grossly overprice the service. For those of you that advocate 802.11B networks to replace something such as Ricochet: 802.11 works in densely populated areas where things were built up instead of out. (Examples would be San Francisco, and most definitely New York) On the flip side, places that grew out such as Southern California and 802.11 network is useless because without a sophisticated directional antenna, and/or illegal power outputs all that's going to be on the network is a few of your neighbors. Ricochet was a godsend to those of us that wanted to sit at the beach, visit the park, go to the coffee shop, and commute down the freeway while connected. My dad is a regional sales manager and spends all day driving. With Ricochet he was able to order stuff for his customers from his laptop mounted in his truck and he had access everywhere he went. Now he does it over the phone. People say 802.11B rocks, but unfortunately it will never be feasible for a Wide Area public network.
802.11b has no accounting in it. I like the idea of small local Wireless Aaccess Points open to all, but I cringe when people call it "free" internet (which is what most seem to call it). How is that -free-? Someone is donating their access to that public WAP: It's philanthropy, not a foundation for ubuquitous high speed wireless access to the net.
I can't see how -that- is a system to replace a -business- like ricochet. Unless you personally can pay for the hardware and wireline bandwidth...? (What is the price point when you're buying 5,000 WAP access points? : ) bk425
I've been watching Aerie for months. They've been saying they're going to buy Ricochet for months. I'm waiting on ACTION. I was a serious ricochet user before they died, and soon as they light it back up, I'll be cruising.
funny munging