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Free Wireless Networks at Airports

Posted by ryuzaki0 on from the ever-expanding-network dept.

WallytheWalrus writes "Today's Minneapolis Star-Tribune is carrying an article about the installation of a wireless network throughout Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport, the first of five such airports across the nation to get a uniform wireless network system. The system, which cost only $250,000 to install, will be free to business travellers passing through the airport (who have the correct hardware), and available through a number of kiosks throughout the airport. One can only hope this is the first step towards bigger and bolder public wireless network projects."

2 of 295 comments (clear)

  1. Re:Well, that would be useless. by sllort · · Score: 5, Informative

    Unless the thing supports IPSec, it would be 100% useless for business travelers

    Last time I was at the IETF, in Pittsburgh, Marconi was running the show and gave everyone 802.11 cards. I plugged mine into my notebook and fired up my Ethernet sniffer, which collected approximately 700+ webmail username/password pairs, over 100 POP logins, a good littering of telnet logins, a bunch of tunneled CIFS logins, and other assorted good stuff. Enough to crack into a user account at a large portion of the represented telco R&D firms. What I learned at IETF that year: the telecommunications world was still too stupid to be allowed to own wireless ethernet.

    That was the IETF. This is an airport. IPSEC? Nah. It's easier to jail the occasional teenager for "sniffing" than it is to actually fix the problem.
    --
    You're reading Managed Agreement.

  2. Weird by sulli · · Score: 5, Informative
    I was going to post a "RTFA" saying that you will have to pay for it, then I went and RTFA'd, and found that this is a very odd setup. 802.11 connecitivity will be free, but the thing will make money. How you ask? Because iPass, the ISP, will be charging for wired and kiosk access (I guess) and "access to corporate networks" (I think this means managed VPNs).

    I think it's fishy as hell. As 802.11 adoption increases, profits go through the floor. Or they charge for IPSec separately from other protocols, and people develop work-arounds. Meanwhile, JoeHaxor is downloading .isos all day and tying up the service.

    Anyone want to bet on how quickly they stop giving away 802.11 free (or ask the airport for a bailout)? Three months?

    --

    sulli
    RTFJ.