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Wi-Fi Alliance To Brand Public Hotspots
Andreas Ehn writes "802.11 Planet writes: 'The Wi-Fi Alliance is
launching a new program starting today to create a global brand for easier recognition of public access hotspots. The Wi-Fi ZONE program will also include setting a minimum standard of quality for hotspots before they can label themselves a Wi-Fi ZONE or display the ZONE
logo.' Read the article here! It won't be cheap, however -- you'll be expected to pay $100 for a license to use the trademark for three access points at one location, though it will be free until March 2004. Or you could just stick to warchalking."
Have you been to a Starbucks in the last 6 months? IIRC, the teamed with VoiceStream/T-Mobile to provide prepayed wireless access. And, depending on where your local Apple store is located, you should be able to leach from them, all their stores should have open 802.11b networks.
Layer 3, at least as I read it refers to the layer in the physical network stack. He means that all internet trafic would be encrypted, rather then application spesific uses like SSH and https.
Anyway, even if you did create a distributed project, you would only be able to decrypt one internet session from one person. Not everyone's traffic. It would be entirely pointless.
autopr0n is like, down and stuff.
Mom and Pop are not operating alone
http://www.part-15.org
http://www.wispcon.info
http://www.isp-lists.com - sign up for isp-wireless mailing list
Go to google and look for the industry leaders - "Michael Anderson" (part-15.org, wispcon.info founder)
"Patrick Leary" (Alvarion Chief Evangelist)
"Marlon Schafer" (agitator, comedian, business consultant)
"Allen Marsalis" (WispCon II award winner
"Roger Boggs" (Roger 'Obi Wan' Boggs - rf guru)
and there are a host of others who answer newcomer's questions and push on lobbying issues, FCC requests for comment, etc - Eje Gustafsson, Jeremy Parr, Neal Rauhauser, Bob Moldashel, Victoria Proffer, the guys at http://www.mikrotik.com, Lonnie Nunweiler, and we can't forget Steve Stroh at http://www.strohpub.com.
If
I am very easy to get along with, but I don't have time to waste being nice to people who are being stupid. -Theo
You mean like this? Free international listing of public / open wireless internet nodes ...
My mother always used to tell me: If you can't find anything nice to say, say something bad about Windows.
You don't understand the point of WEP. It is an encryption standard to get you onto the wireless network segment. If you are using a shared access point, you must either have no WEP enabled, or everyone uses the same WEP key. How easily it can be broken is completely irrelevant in any discussion about shared access points. It's like being on a normal CAT-5 shared network segment (hub, not a switch). With the WEP key in place, all traffic is available to you. No different to being in a internet cafe, would you trust your packets in that enviroment?
WEP can be used by private firms or home users to lock down access to their own network. It is here that the weakness lies.
The net is an unencrypted and completely insecure network. Just because the last mile is suddenly insecure, it's no reason to suddenly start to panic. If you are concerned, get some good VPN software, or stick to encrypting by protocol. It's the only way to limit access to your communications. Oh, and avoid using the phone as well.
Personally, I'm more concerned that POP/IMAP over SSL is as rare as it is currently, especially given how easy it is to configure. You want something to worry about? Who's holding this back? Where's my tinfoil hat?
Well, they are listed as a non-profit, so the costs of developing an international database of hot spots and ensuring that locations that are certified are up to snuff is going to have to come from the licences.
Also, $100 per year isn't all that much if you are a for-profit business that is using Wi-Fi as a means of attracting customers to your location. The article says that libraries, colleges, and governments don't need to pay. I'd imagine that other non-profits with community spirit driving their installation of WiFi would be able to get reductions in $$ too.
"When ideology and theology couple, their offspring are not always bad but they are always blind." -- Bill Moyers
http://www.80211hotspots.com
I have also been working on wi-fi hot spot branding for a while, with an identity sign (for free)
Beam Here mirror
Beam Here
Beam Here Identity Sign
I can put together a simple eps sign to print for anyone with a hotspot to use in about a week. And if anyone wants to team up for a database that would be great to.
I don't know if I'd totally agree with that. Trucking Companies already have what they need, Qualcomm OmniTracs - an all-in-one solution offering 2way text communication, email, vehicle tracking, trailer tracking, and load info. And they've had it for quite awhile. Every large scale company uses it, as well as most smaller fleets. It's essential, and cuts down on all the "let's call our dispatcher" downtime.
I know, I used to drive truck.
These systems utilize satellite communcation which, while not perfect, would be much better then truckstop hotspots for all but the smallest fleets.
To be honest, there aren't many truckstops east of Pa, and the ones there fill up fast. Not to mention certain drivers, like me, only stopped at truckstops to fuel, using wayside rests to shut down for my break.
And don't forget there's a lot of places where drivers go where there isnt a local truckstop nearby. I would sure hate delivering a load and driving for 200 miles to hit a hotspot and find out my next load. I quite liked being out in BFE and still having a link to HQ right by my side.
Looking for hardware (Currently need: Large Etch-a-Sketch) Have one? See my journal!