The Michigan police arrested Sam Peterson for using from his car the free WiFi network that Union Street Cafe has reserved solely for its customers. Peterson escaped the penalty of five-year imprisonment and paying a $10,000 fee, as prescribed by the state’s “fraudulent access to computers, computer systems, and computer networks” law. Prosecutors only demanded that he pay a $400 fine and perform 40 hours of community service, arguing that Peterson was possibly unaware that he broke the law. The arrest will not be reflected on his record as well.
Authorities in other states have made similar arrests. In 2005, a Florida man was charged with a third degree felony for tapping an open WiFi network from his SUV. Last year, an Illinois resident pleaded guilty for using an unsecured WiFi network from his car while someone in Washington was apprehended for parking outside a coffee shop and using the store’s WiFi connection without buying anything. This year, a man in Alaska had a similar fate after hours of piggybacking on the public library’s wireless network to play games from his car in the parking lot.
Via [arstechnica.com]
Continue reading ‘Michigan Man Arrested For Using Cafe’s Free WiFi From His Car’
Debate over the safety of Wi-Fi radiation levels in Britain continues. Britain has adopted municipal Wi-Fi fairly well and has added millions of users and several wireless cities to its roster, but they’re now finding the debate over health and safety is spreading. Stirring the pot of contention is the BBC program Panorama, which is questioning the level of control over Wi-Fi in the classroom. Britain’s Health Protection Agency acknowledges the concerns of citizens and vows to continue research into the topic, but at the same time reassures communities by saying that the networks produce very low power which does not represent a health risk. This ambiguity has served to alarm more than placate the public and watchdog groups have been set up to demand evidence of safety.
Via [news.bbc.co.uk]
Continue reading ‘Schools Want Urgent Wi-Fi Advice’
Municipal Wi-Fi in Britain doesn’t seem to be hitting the same stumbling blocks that it’s American counterpart. With millions of subscribers and entire cities going Wi-Fi, Britain has developed a new concern… health risks.
The radiation produced from a Wi-Fi tower is similar to that from a cell phone tower. And in 2000 Sir William Stewart, current Chairman of the Health Protection Agency, led a study into the effects of cell phone tower radiation and determined that there was enough reason to be concerned and suggested a precautionary approach to putting towers near schools. Radiation levels are much lower than the safety limits in Britain but with entire schools going Wi-Fi there is an increased radiation level. Currently, there are studies being performed across the world and the jury is still out on this possible health problem.
Via [news.bbc.co.uk]
Continue reading ‘Wi-Fi: A Warning Signal’
Wireless protocol is finally about to get some standardization. The Wi-Fi Alliance has said that it will soon be certifying products based on pre-standard version of the next generation hi-speed wireless networking technology with 802.11n. This means that IEEE (Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers) wireless LAN standard will receive a well needed revision. The problem is that its taken so long to finalize the “n” version of this draft that two drafts were actually made. This of course has led to a few problems for users including no guarantee that your product will work with the final draft specifications. There may also be problems with the backwards compatibility of your preexisting equipment.
For the time being it is recommended that consumers shy away from purchasing new 802.11n standardized products and stick with traditional 802.11b and 802.11g standards.
Via [zdnetasia.com]
Continue reading ‘Avoid Draft 802.11n Standard, Says Analyst’
It seems the dream of an inexpensive Wi-Fi connection for all might be just that…a dream. About a year ago the city of Lompoc, California sunk $3 million into this dream, hoping that the internet could connect them with the outside world.
Currently, only a few hundred subscribers have latched on to the service, far fewer than the estimated 4,000 needed to repay loans for this venture. And municipal Wi-Fi projects aren’t just failing in Lompoc, across the country cities bought into the dream only to find out that they’ve been over promised, under delivered and may even have the wrong technology. This means millions of lost tax dollars that should have gone to other projects. No one knows what will happen to municipal Wi-Fi in the end but at this point the dream is turning into a nightmare for some communities.
Via [signonsandiego.com]
Continue reading ‘Despite High Hopes For Economic Development, Cities Struggle With Wireless Internet’
A group of wireless LAN vendors plan to showcase their new high-performing enterprise access points at the Interop Las Vegas this week.
Colubris will bring its Multiservice Access Point (MAP)-625, which has two radios. One radio supports 802.11a, b, and g while the other is compatible with 11n draft 2 standard. The MAP-625 11n radio promises a minimum useable throughput of 100Mbps, which could go up by another 24Mbps via the 11abg radio. The company looks to sell the product for $999, around 30 percent higher than the current dual-radio 11abg variant.
The new 11n ZoneFlex WLAN product line from Ruckus Wireless includes a new 11g access point, an existing 11g low-end access point for small offices, a new 11n draft 2 access point, and the ZoneDirector 1000 controller, which the firm will make available in 3 models to host as many as 25 access points. The ZoneFlex 2942 11g access point is expected to deliver 20Mbps of “sustained throughput.” The ZoneFlex 7942 11n access point, which is due for release in August or September, features a 2.4 GHz radio that can operate on 11bg and 11n.
Trapeze Networks unveiled its Mobility Ppoint(MP)-432 11n draft 2 access point. The AP features a 3×3 antenna configuration for each band, and like Colubris’s MAP-625, is based on the Atheros dual-band MIMO chipset. The two radios can operate simultaneously. When working on the optional 40 MHz channels, they can support a total data rate of 600Mbps. The device is likely to be sold for “less than $1,500,” according to the company.
Via [networkworld.com]
Continue reading ‘Three Vendors Spotlight 11n Wireless LANs For The Enterprise’
Wireless technology is no match to wired networks as primary connection. This is according to Dave Burstein, editor of the industry newsletter DSL Prime. “Where you have a choice, DSL or cable compared to wireless, you are going to go for DSL or cable unless it’s ridiculously overpriced.” Burstein conceded that wireless networks are useful during emergencies and away from home but in terms of security and speed, wired connections are a better option.
Adam DuVander, a Web programmer and blogger, experienced problems associated with Wi-Fi, first-hand. The Portland resident, who taps wireless hotspots around the area to log onto the Internet, expressed excitement over the city’s planned wireless network, but that feeling did not last long. “I tried it out as soon as I could and found that it wasn’t for me. The quality of the connection is not up to my standards.” The project only entails installing 25 access points per square mile, which means that users must be within 500 feet of the nearest AP. Boosting performance would require adding more access points, but this would increase the cost of the project. With that, “the business model breaks in its entirety,” said Logan Kleier, the city’s manager for the Unwired Portland project.
Via [signonsandiego.com]
Continue reading ‘Wi-Fi Better Designed For Shorter Ranges, Not Citywide Deployments’
The Wi-Fi Alliance is scheduled to start certification of wireless routers, networking cards, microchips and other products supporting draft 802.11n standard. The final version of the specification, which is due to be released next year, boasts speed that is five times higher than the current “g” version. The technology uses multiple antennas and promises better range, allowing signals to bypass walls and dead spots. According to the Wi-Fi Alliance, with the certification, customers can expect draft n products to work well with one another and with older certified Wi-Fi devices.
Via [washingtonpost.com]
Continue reading ‘Next Gen Of Wi-Fi Is Planned For Summer’
And now for the information that travelers absolutely must have. Which hotels provide the best Wi-Fi services as reported by HotelChatter.com. First the bad news, rather than more hotels providing free internet its gone the other way. More hotels are limiting or restricting the availability of their Wi-Fi services and trying to make an extra buck in the process. The top ranking hotel, Marriott, still provides free Wi-Fi in the lobby and in the rooms. And this service is fast and reliable. Included under the Marriott label are Residence Inns, SpringHill Suites, and Courtyard hotels. For high-end, luxury travelers then the Andre Balazs or Jeff Klein hotels are for you. These hotels provide the service completely complimentary and only require that you register with the front desk and get a Wi-Fi code. In California the JDV Hospitality ranks up there for their quick and easy, and most importantly, free internet service. And also making honorable mention are the Omni Hotels. Although the advertised price is $9.99 per day you can get around this charge by joining the Select Guest Program or get free service in the lobby.
Via [hotelchatter.com]
Continue reading ‘Best WiFi Hotels 2007′
EarthLink’s latest move is sending minor shockwaves through the Wi-Fi community. The company has decided to turn its attention away from municipalities and focus on existing deals and big cities. The company cites its first quarter earnings, or losses rather, as the reason for its shift in focus. With a loss of $30 million the company plans to cut in half its capital expenditures on municipal Wi-Fi services. The company has also discovered that not only technical problems lie in their path to Wi-Fi dominance but political in fighting in the cities looking for service has become a huge stumbling block. Low subscription response has also put a damper on the enthusiasm of EarthLink and other providers. Until municipal Wi-Fi becomes more lucrative and attractive to providers it may remain just a pipe dream.
Via [computerworld.com]
Continue reading ‘EarthLink Scales Back, Focuses Muni Wi-Fi Effort’
Vodafone is looking at some legal troubles for trying to stop VoIP. James Tagg, Chief Executive of Truphone claims that Vodafone is failing to meet interconnection obligations, blocking competitor websites and disabling internet telephony. He also claims that Vodafone blocks calls coming to their customers from people using Truphone services. Vodafone’s official stance is that VoIP services do not have quality guarantees and therefore their customers may be disappointed with the experience. For now the controversy is still brewing but as technology progresses these details will have to be ironed out.
Via [pcworld.com]
Continue reading ‘Vodafone To Be Sued For VoIP Blocking?’
Skype made a bold move in February and filed a petition with the FCC requesting they apply their consumer broadband principals to the wireless industry. The response? Verizon Wireless, AT&T and CTIA are fighting back. These carriers claim spectrum limitations and unique network management issues. Also, because VoIP is not optimized for wireless it consumes more bandwidth than circuit-switched calls. CTIA goes a step further in its criticism and says that Skype is asking the FCC to adopt their business model and taking away the consumer benefits derived from competition. Skype’s response claims that the initial ruling in 2005 was limited in that it didn’t consider the implications of smartphones and that the carriers are actually blocking competition from VoIP providers. The FCC is currently reviewing the situation and taking comments on the carrier responses.
Via [internetnews.com
Continue reading ‘Skype Gets A Tongue Lashing’
With plans by over 200 operators worldwide to deploy WiMAX this year, it is no wonder TeleGeography Research touted 2007 as “the year WiMAX finally comes of age.” This is particularly true in Asia. Nortel is collaborating with Toshiba and a unit at the Japanese Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications to provide WiMAX service in Honshu Island. It also teamed up with Chungwa Telecom to develop Taiwan’s first integrated local government WiMAX network. Alcatel-Lucent, meanwhile, revealed it finalized a deal with Maxis Communications Berhard in Malaysia to conduct a field trial of WiMAX 802.16e solution using 2.5-GHz spectrum, with the aim of addressing the demand for wireless broadband access by residential users.
Ovum analyst Nathan Burley suggested that licensing issues and the availability of appropriate spectrum could impede the progress of massive WiMax deployments in Asia and the Pacific. He said that none of the four existing WiMAX bands is broadly available in the region and approved licenses do not support extensive roll-outs. There is also the question of consumer acceptance. Considering the popularity of Wi-Fi and 3G, the analyst firm believes fixed and mobile WiMax will remain “niche technologies in most markets for the next five years.” The technology’s future depends on the volume of WiMax chipsets integrated into consumer electronic devices and the commitment of mobile operators to HSDPA deployments.
Continue reading ‘WiMAX Comes Of Age In Asia’
Meru Networks has unveiled its new enterprise-class wireless LAN products that comply with the IEEE 802.11n draft standard. These include a two-radio access point, a five-blade controller and new software for handling wireless data traffic, which Meru will bring to the Interop Las Vegas show later this month. These products, according to company, allow for data transmission rates of 300Mbit/sec.
The AP300 is relying on radio chipsets from Atheros Communications. The radios can both be 11n or a combination of 11n along with 11a/b/g to work with existing WLAN clients. Meru plans to sell this device for about $1,500, nearly double the price of its current high-end 802.11a/b/g access point. It is still determining the price of the MC500, which can support as many as 200 access points and deliver as high as 1Gbit/sec. of throughput. The TDS, meanwhile, will enable Meru’s controllers to differentiate wireless packets. With the software, controllers may deal with only control traffic, or only data traffic, or both.
Via [computerworld.com]
Continue reading ‘Meru Unveils Enterprise 802.11n WLAN Gear’
