Slashdot Mirror

← Back to Stories (view on slashdot.org)

Cometa WiFi Hotspot Network To Shut Down

Posted by simoniker on from the not-so-hot dept.

Glenn Fleishman writes "The folks who announced in Dec. 2002 that they would install 20,000 for-fee Wi-Fi hotspots across the U.S. within two years ago reached several hundred locations in 18 months before shutting down today. Cometa Networks was funded partly by Intel Capital, and had AT&T and IBM's involvement in building the network. The firm resold access to its network, and urged partners to charge low rates, like $3 to $5 per day or $12 per month for unlimited access. Cometa lost its best chance for a big network last month, when McDonald's picked Wayport to build out over 12,000 Wi-Fi hotspots in the U.S." There's now an official press release up, with the CEO noting: "We do not think this reflects on the strength of the Wi-Fi industry or value proposition."

4 of 111 comments (clear)

  1. A glimpse at their business plan by ptomblin · · Score: 5, Funny

    1. Spend millions install WiFi hardware at thousands of hotspots
    2. Give away free Internet access at these sites
    3. ....
    4. Profit!

    --
    The next Cmdr Taco duplicate will be ready soon, but subscribers can beat the rush and see it early!
  2. Re:Hmm. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Funny
    handing out free WiFi probably isn't the best business model.

    Wow. Great comment!

    How do you feel about WiFi that costs money?

    The firm resold access to its network, and urged partners to charge low rates, like $3 to $5 per day or $12 per month for unlimited access.

    --
    I wish "first posters" would at least read the summary.

  3. For-fee by autopr0n · · Score: 3, Funny

    We see that free free free does not work unless there is some viable way to make money money money.

    I think their problem was that people kept seeing "for-fee" and thinking it said "for-free", and so they never got paid.

    --
    autopr0n is like, down and stuff.
  4. BigMac Eats Cometa by lub · · Score: 3, Funny

    Several cometes hosting rebel troops governed by evil and rebelious law were fretted by an unusual hungry BigMac. The 250 hotspots were digested within less than a second. BigMac's first comment: 'This was fun! Where exactly did you say that cluster of beowulfs is located? Buuurghrp.' The BigMac is now heading for McDonald's Plaza in Oak Brook, IL and dying to see Birdie. The extra-terrestial fresh quality of the Cometa, the main ingredient of McDonald's most popular burger, the Double Quarter Pounder with Cheese, Bacon and Eggs and Cometa, is a result of a unique process and BigMac's ability to eat the Cometa directly after catching.