AMD Papers Over Free Wi-Fi Network Builders

Glenn Fleishman writes "It's been widely reported in the last week that AMD, Intel's processor competitor, was launching a free hotspot network. It's come out, in reporting we just posted at Wi-Fi Networking News, that AMD has built this network by calling existing free hotspots and asking if they'd put stickers in their window. This might be fine: stickers and the label "AMD HotSpot" in exchange for promotion. However, in Austin several local wireless activists say that AMD has put their hotspot decals up in stores without the stores' permission, including at locations operated and supported by Austin Wireless City and Austin Unleashed. Guerrilla marketing gone overzealous? Or an attempt to seize the credit without paying for it?"

Comments

old news guys

[ruiner5000]

Hey, didn't I post news about this at AMDZone a month ago? :) Here is an e-mail I got back on the list after making note of it. Our meeting is tonight. I contacted AMD, and have not heard more from them yet.

If I catch em I will Hit em with whatever is handy or my fists which are
deadly weepons.

That just sucks.

*******8 wrote:

>It is a scam; the AMD guy has been going by my Hotspots and "dropping
>off" or just sticking the stickers up. It really pisses me off. AFAIK
>they have no hotspots of their own, they are just stealing others
>thunder. If the person dropping off these stickers monitors this list,
>I highly recommend you stop. If I catch you, I will sue you. I like
>AMD, and I hope this is not a corporate policy, just a misguided
>marketer.
>
>Z
>
>-----Original Message-----
>From: Chris Tom [mailto:christomscrewyouspambots@screwyouspambotsa lumni.utexas.net]
>Sent: Wednesday, February 25, 2004 10:25 AM
>To: austinwirelessscrewyouspambots@spamlists.marlabs.c om
>Subject: [AWN] Free AMD WiFi?
>
>Hey guys,
>
>I ate at the Far West El Arroyo last night, and they now have AMD
>branded WiFi. I've not heard of such a program from AMD before, and I
>know that location has had WiFi in the past. Has anyone else seen
>these around? There were a couple of official AMD signs posted up. I
>was at the 5th Street location last week and I didn't see any
>indication of AMD being involved with their connection.
>
>Thanks,
>
>Chris Tom
>AMDZone.com
>TXGF.com
>Austinbands.net
>
>
>
>---
>Outgoing mail is certified Virus Free.
>Checked by AVG anti-virus system (http://www.grisoft.com).
>Version: 6.0.594 / Virus Database: 377 - Release Date: 2/24/2004
>
>
>
>
>
>

Re:old news guys

[eggboard]

I found your post in researching this story, and I give you full credit for having posted something about it so early. However, we talked to about 15 people for this article by phone and email, and made sure they were willing to go on the record with specific details.

You get credit for the scoop!

Re:old news guys

[ruiner5000]

You should have called me. Not only am I from Austin, I live in Austin, I've been in the wireless group for coming up on two years, and I've run AMDZone for almost 6. Put me on the contact list next time. No one else can get info from the group, AMD, and the locations face to face.

Incompatible with the open standard

[LostCluster]

Warchalking already exists... AMD's just a bit late attaching their logo to it.

Re:old news guys [OT]

[Elwood P Dowd]

>---
>Outgoing mail is certified Virus Free.
>Checked by AVG anti-virus system (http://www.grisoft.com).
>Version: 6.0.594 / Virus Database: 377 - Release Date: 2/24/2004

Whoa. I haven't seen that in any emails before. Unless I misunderstand completely, that's really dumb. Why can't that "certification" be forged? Why would you want to create a brand that would be used to brand viruses?

Re:Are they all *FREE* hotspots?

[System.out.println()]

A good idea is to go to the new local.google.com and search for "wifi" in your zip code - I got a number of results I had no idea about, and so far have a good success of actually being free.

Re:"AMD HotSpot"

[joggle]

And this was inside a computer case lying on its side with the side panel removed so the top was open.

Isn't it better to leave the case closed, with good intake fans on the front and exhaust on the back? Forced-air convection through a case is better than open convection I believe.

ridiculous.

[rajmobile]

I bought an Apple Airport Extreme basestation as a gift for a cafe that opened around the corner from my house last year. They had three iMacs, but no wireless, so I thought that it might help bring in some laptop-wielding customers. Went in a month ago and saw that the cafe, full of white Apple iMacs, had been branded an AMD hotspot. heh..

Re:ridiculous.

[ruiner5000]

Even funnier is the AMD PCI-X HyperTransport bridge chip inside the PowerMac G5s, and that 802.11 wireless chip from AMD inside the Airport. Don't Apple users actually open what they buy to see what chips are in it?

Re:Reminds me of...

[wolrahnaes]

Ha! You're both wrong! There is no God!!!

*ducks*