The Internet by Motorbike

MrHatken writes "An interesting combination of wireless, wheels, and store-and-forward email: 'In Cambodia, motorbikes act as routers for a store-and-forward email system: The New York Times reports on a system that allow remote villages in Cambodia to send and receive email via Wi-Fi-equipped motorbikes. The Motoman system converges in the provincial capital where a satellite-enabled school uploads and downloads email for the remote recipients. The system is funded in part through U.S. benefactors who aren't just sending money; they're spending time there as well, and helping to improve the quality of medicine and people's livelihoods.'"

Comments

this is news?

[The Clockwork Troll]

wi-fi has been a standard features on harley-linksys-davidsons for several years now.

Re:this is news?

[shadowmas]

This is an automatically generated Delivery Status Notification. Delivery to the following recipients has been delayed due to a flat tire. someone@cambodia.net

WTF?

[asscroft]

WTF? Someone just woke up one day and said, "Know what bob? I'm a gonna go to Cambodia. That's right. Cambodia."

"What are you gonna do in Cambodia?"

"I don't know. But I think I'm gonna ride a motorbike."

"A motorbike?"

nods.

"In Cambodia?"

"Right."

"wow. Why?"

"I think I'll use it to send email. You know, there's a lack of email in Cambodia. And there are lots of motorbikes. If we could just get a motorbike to help us send email, the people of Cambodia would be able to get Nigerian spam just like we do."

"You know, now that you've put it that way, it sounds like a good idea. Motorbike, email, Cambodia, spam. Can I go with?"

"Well of course, Bob. I wouldn't have it any other way."

Data Redundancy Plan

[maliabu]

do they have redundancy plan in case those motorbikes are stolen or damaged in accidents?

Re:is this a dupe?

[zcat_NZ]

No, last time it was carrier-pidgeons with memory sticks.

Temporary Solution?

[maliabu]

just hope this is a temporary solution rather than their long-term plan.

otherwise, they can go as far as providing high speed internet connection at $9.95 per month on a 500cc bike and a low speed plan at $2.95 per month on a 50cc bike. and very soon they'll propose to build better road, maybe highway so that information can be moved around more quickly.

Re:is this a dupe?

[kfg]

Dude, that was bicycles in Laos. Totally different. Sheesh.

KFG

Upgrades announced

[Tokerat]

REUTERS - Cambodian officials have just announced an innovative plan to upgrade their WiFi/motorcycle based Internet routing system. "We well be focusing on cost, capacity, food consumption, and, most of all; reliability," said the Cambodia's manager of Information and Communications, Sum Gai.

The new plan calls for recordable DVDs taped to carrier pigeons to replace the motorcyclists. "They eat less and we don't have to pay them, they can go farther and faster and in a more direct line than the motorbikes can," claimed Gai. "Not only that, but they're really cute. I have three and they're darlings." According to Gai, contractors are already lining up, despite the early stage of planning. "3M called us with a very lucrative offer on discount bulk duct tape, and of course all the major recordable DVD manufacturers are squabbling over which format is superior for pigeon-based transit," said Gai.

Officials plan to release a full proposal to the press next week.

Cool!

[Anonymous Coward]

This is great.

When I order pizza, it comes by motorcycle. Now the same bike brings the internet too. My dream of ordering pizza on the internet has finally come true! Wait a minute...