Slashdot Mirror
The Assassination of Wi-Fi
justelite writes "John C. Dvorak from PC Magazine has up an article looking at the new strategy of American cell-phone-service companies. From article: 'There is mounting evidence that the cellular service companies are going to do whatever they can to kill Wi-Fi. After all, it is a huge long-term threat to them. We've seen that the route to success in America today is via public gullibility and general ignorance. And these cell-phone-service companies are no dummies.'"
Well, since research showed that 92% of Americans are religious, that confirms the gullibility part of the article, but Cellcos are not against Wifi. WiFi is a short range, spotty coverage service - Cellcos provide full coverage long range service. WiFi is no threat to them.
Excuse me, but please get off my Pennisetum Clandestinum, eh!
Setting aside that speculation is presented as fact, I would consider for the moment the viability of the comment.
Will cellular companies directly compete with wifi. I assume, one means, by wifi, the 802.11 standard. Otherwise, some may consider the data over cell coverage as wifi.
First, I would be surprised if they ever defeated any private wifi scheme. Getting rid of private wifi would have to be equivalent to getting right of direct to home services, which both AT&T and Verizon offer. Otherwise, if the companies meant to ruin wifi via fcc regulation, this could be potentially problematic, for it would have to overthrow any long standing notion to intentionally radiate emissions via fcc approved equipment at low signal power, which would be extremely problematic.
But I expect the article refers to municipally regulated companies which provide internet access through 802.11 standard. Since this requires a little bit more power, the system's existence relies a little more on the fcc's allowance. But as the fcc recently prefers to deregulate, but despite deregulation encourage competition, I'd be surprised if the fcc regulated because a company wanted them too. The fcc is much more likely to deregulate per corporate request.
Mostly however companies tend towards synergy, I think. Like the iPhone, which can use the cingular's Edge, but if 802.11 is available, either unprotected or with the client aware of a key. With the telecos providing more and more packaged services, I wouldn't be surprised if they just started up public wifi services, offering included 802.11 access with their cell phone data packages and/or domestic broadband services.
Telephone company's aren't stupid, and they will do as much as they can to make more money. Which seems to border bundled packages. Well I take that back, they may be stupid enough. But given lobbying the fcc presents such a large marginal cost compared to marginal return initially, where a more cooperative model at this point presents better marginal returns. Long story short, its just easier not to lobby the fcc anytime soon. And I doubt anywhere in the near future.