NetStumbler

Google May Get Its Open-access Wishes After All; Will Bid In 700MHz Auction

Kristin Abraham — Sat, 01 Dec 2007 01:33:33 +0000

The much anticipated 700MHz spectrum auction in January officially has another bidder. Google has announced that it will toss its hat in the ring.

A Google representative says that the company’s goal is to offer American consumers more choices in an open and competitive wireless world. Officially, Google doesn’t have to announce its plans until December 3rd so until then speculations abound.

Some say Google has no interest in becoming a network provider, others look to the previously proposed four open access provisions, or possibly they will lease space to others. Nothing is certain at this point except that when Google does make its plans known it will create a nationwide buzz.
Via [arstechnica.com]

Google Launches US Wireless Crusade

Kristin Abraham — Tue, 25 Sep 2007 17:02:16 +0000

Google is looking to offer 95% of the population free broadband within the next 10 years. Unfortunately, it seems that the FCC is thwarting their efforts.

Google has contacted the FCC and explained to them their interest in a wireless proposal set forth by M2Z Networks. M2Z is hoping to lease an unused slice of wireless spectrum between 2155 to 2175 MHz.

The FCC’s stance is that they’re waiting to hear how the public wants the spectrum to be used and licensed.

Google has my vote!
Via [theregister.co.uk]

Google-funded Startup To Offer Free Wi-Fi In San Francisco

Kristin Abraham — Tue, 11 Sep 2007 07:51:03 +0000

The city of San Francisco has had its ups and downs with a citywide Wi-Fi system and still there is no system in sight. Google has most recently entered the fray, at least peripherally.

Meraki, Google funded start up, claims it can cover the city with Wi-Fi for a fraction of the current plan’s costs, won’t require any commitment from the city, and they will use hardware that is more reliable than Earthlink. So far the company has set up internet access points across the city that have been hit by approximately 7000 different machines. They’re now hoping to expand their coverage to the rest of the city.

Rather than following Earthlink’s expensive and flawed system of placing access points on light poles, Meraki relies on volunteers who place transmitters in their windows and allow neighbors to piggy back on the service, in fact some people are actually providing access to their own DSL connections.

All of the kinks aren’t worked out of the system, but it looks as if Meraki’s neighborly approach may be the solution to San Francisco’s internet woes.
Via [theregister.co.uk]

Google’s Long Shot In Wireless

Kristin Abraham — Wed, 25 Jul 2007 23:06:27 +0000

Google has a vision of the future and it looks pretty good. Their goal is to make all cellphones compatible with any wireless network and internet access will be sold to customers at deeply discounted prices. In fact, Google is so devoted to this vision that it’s willing to throw $4.6 billion toward transforming prime public airways to a high-speed data freeway.

Google has placed a stipulation on its bid, they want regulators to agree to open access of those airwaves. If the FCC agrees the new spectrum could be revolutionary, giving consumers more choices. This idea is backed wholeheartedly by consumers, public interest groups and a coalition of major technology companies.
Via [latimes.com]

Google Announces Free In-home Wireless Broadband Service

Kristin Abraham — Mon, 02 Apr 2007 07:07:00 +0000

Technology has now made gaps in cell phone coverage a thing of the past, that is if there is a Wi-Fi Hotspot nearby. Smart phones, complete with Wi-Fi capabilities are hitting the market, albeit slowly, and allow you to make VoIP phone calls, check email, read the latest news and other activities via the internet. As with all new technology, there are plusses and minuses to using smart phone but the biggest plus is you have the option of using the phone in a traditional cellular mode or switching to a Wi-Fi connection. Look for future improvements to include more options that are less expensive.
Via [google.com]

Google Requests Wi-Fi Perch

Eliza Villarino — Thu, 07 Dec 2006 14:17:00 +0000

Google wants access to as many as 1,500 city light poles in San Francisco for its own test network and exclusive from the citywide WiFi network that it proposed to the city. Google’s project partner, EarthLink, voiced the search giant’s request to city officials, which it said is a condition for Google’s participation in the project. The city earlier selected the proposal from the two companies to build and run the network at no cost to the city in exchange for the use of light poles and other areas where they can install access points. Brian Roberts, a senior policy analyst for the city, believes the request would not be accommodated under ongoing negotiations as it is well beyond the proposal presented to officials.
Via [pcworld.com]

Google Wi-Fi Gift Has A Catch

RenderMan — Mon, 25 Sep 2006 07:46:00 +0000

Google’s municipal WiFi project in Mountain View, CA. has a catch, no live tech support. The network is being provided for 5 years at a cost of millions as a ‘perk’ to the city, but as the saying goes; “you get what you pay for”. The free network will not have any live tech support available. While not a huge problem for some users, it may limit the amount of people who use the network.
Via [seattletimes.nwsource.com]

Google Says It Doesn’t Plan Nationwide Wi-Fi Service

Eliza Villarino — Fri, 01 Sep 2006 12:25:00 +0000

Google is not planning to provide US-wide WiFi service. It said around 300 contracts are open for competition but Google has not expressed its interest in any of them. It has put up $1 million to build a citywide network in Mountain View, the place Google calls home. As per its agreement with the city, Google will keep all advertising revenues.
Via [bizjournals.com]

In Search Of Google Wi-Fi

Eliza Villarino — Thu, 24 Aug 2006 10:33:00 +0000

Google has blanketed Mountain View, Calfornia, the place it calls home, with WiFi using a mesh of nodes placed on the city’s lamp posts. A test of the network — access to which is not available to the public yet — showed that reliability, speed and ease of use do not match up with cellular or home Internet connections. Google claimed that the network can provide a speed of up to 1Mbps or less than half a fast DSL connection of 2.5Mbps and such would depend on how far the user is from the node. Signal inside homes is also very weak, which can be addressed by using an extra piece of signal-boosting hardware. There is also a lag in communication when calls are made using VoIP applications such as Skype.
Via [news.bbc.co.uk]

Google Details Mountain View Wi-Fi Service

Eliza Villarino — Mon, 26 Jun 2006 15:35:00 +0000

Google has no plan to profit from the the free Wi-Fi service that it is providing to Mountain View, California, the city where it is based. “The reason it is free is because…we want to get a lot of people on it,” Google’s Larry Alder said at the Supernova 2006 conference in San Francisco. Though fully deployed, the service is not yet accessible to all residents in the area. Google dismissed fears of privacy infringement, insisting that it will only require users to have a Google account and will not demand for their names or addresses. The account, according to the company, is needed for problem-monitoring purposes.
Via [news.com.com]

Google Forging Ahead With Wi-Fi Efforts

Sherry Jones — Wed, 14 Jun 2006 08:41:00 +0000

Google will provide free wireless Internet access service to its hometown of Mountain View, Calif. in a phased rollout that begins this summer. Volunteers providing feedback for the project can sign up for Wi-Fi this summer, with public service coming available later this year. Meanwhile, Google is working with Earthlink to blanket San Francisco with a free Wi-Fi service across its 49-square miles. Security and privacy concerns have kept city officials talking, but radiation concerns have been laid to rest. It turns out cell phones emit more powerful radiation than wireless radio equipment.
Via [news.zdnet.com]

Why Cable Companies, Google Are Eyeing Wireless Spectrum

RenderMan — Wed, 17 May 2006 05:16:00 +0000

As companies compete for any advantage, some unlikely names are showing interest in radio spectrum. The FCC is set to auction off 90Mhz pieces of the 1.7GHz to 2.1GHz bands. Names such as Google and Time Warner and Verizon are all being listed as possibly interested in pieces of the spectrum. The theories on what these companies would use the bandwidth for are many, but most seem to involve the companies leveraging existing media into a wireless market.
Via [news.zdnet.com]

Google Teams With Nokia For Wi-Fi Mobile Phone Service

Eliza Villarino — Tue, 16 May 2006 10:56:00 +0000

Google is working with Nokia to launch a handheld device that will include Google’s instant messenger and Internet calling service called Google Talk. The plan envisions users to tap a wireless Internet network instead of cellular signals to make calls. The service will be restricted to people with Google Talk on their PCs or Nokia devices.
Via [seattlepi.nwsource.com]

Google Won’t Do Silicon Valley Wi-Fi

Eliza Villarino — Wed, 10 May 2006 10:51:00 +0000

Google will not join the competition for the establishment of a Wi-Fi Silicon Valley in San Francisco. Google spokeswoman Megan Quinn said the company has no intention to respond to a request for proprosals for the $200 million project, which is due on June 30. The Wireless Silicon Valley Task Force is looking for one or more vendors to fund and set up a wireless network that will be operational by early 2007. It said it is not disheartened despite Google’s disinterest, adding that the company had been cooperative and was generous in sharing information. It, however, hopes to establish interoperability with the Wi-Fi network provided by Google in Mountain View, the city where it is based.
Via [computerworld.com]

Google Wi-Fi Deal Gains Powerful Critics

RenderMan — Mon, 08 May 2006 16:27:00 +0000

The Google/Earthlink plan to unwire San Francisco is meeting with some serious opposition. While groups like the ACLU and the EFF applaud the economic and social benifits of the plan, but also have grave concerns about the privacy of the system. The latest person to step up with concerns is city supervisor Jake McGoldrick. No idea yet how his concern will affect the project.
Via [pcmag.com]