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Google and Skype in Startup to Link Hotspots

Posted by ScuttleMonkey on from the resistance-is-futile dept.

An anonymous reader writes "Google and Skype are investing in a new startup (FON, the Spanish startup) that plans to help hotspot owners charge for Wi-Fi access points. The plan outlines two different classes of customer; "Linus" members, named after Linus Torvalds, will share their hotspot with other Linus members for free and "Bill" members, named after Microsoft's Bill Gates, will charge for access to their hotspot. FON will get some of that revenue, and share it with ISPs."

3 of 158 comments (clear)

  1. Re:geek pride by nettdata · · Score: 4, Interesting

    Nope.

    I think it's a great way to introduce people to Linux and the concept that there is something other than the "Microsoft Way".

    Those of us that know what it means will chuckle, those of them that don't will ask "where'd the names come from?".

    I think it's fantastic.

    Sure as hell beats the standard marketing bullshit naming schemes that seem to be everywhere, IMO.

    --



    $0.02 (CDN)
  2. Re:This is annoying by raju1kabir · · Score: 4, Interesting
    Starbucks makes so much money selling drinks and other crap, they could easily give it away. Don't even give me that crap that people would sit all day and surf. Some would, but they would be in the vast minority.

    In this country (Malaysia), wifi is free at Starbucks. I don't really see anyone with a laptop who doesn't also have a drink-in-progress. People (myself included) order something every hour or so, and at those prices, that's surely keeping them in business.

    After hours it's a different story. Many of the Starbucks near me have primarily outdoor seating, and when they shut at 1 or 2am, strange characters show up with decal-coated laptops and do mysterious things late into the night. If this really bothered the management, presumably they would turn off the access point or bring in the chairs at closing time.

    --
    "Patriotism is your conviction that this country is superior to all other countries because you were born in it." -- GBS
  3. Re:What can they offer me I can't do myself? by JTL21 · · Score: 3, Interesting

    When someone uses your connection for spamming/hacking/child porn or other illegal purposes you have some proof that:

    a) other people use that network connection rather than just you
    b) FON will know who they are and have contact details for them

    That is the reason I don't share my connection, fear that at some point I will have to prove my innocence and what I HAVEN'T done. We all know how hard it is to PROVE a negative is such cases.