WiFi - a gold Mine?

I've been consulting with a client in the WiFi world recently and I've become very interested in it. Wireless Internet offered as a Utility by a city... Wireless Internet at a Mall, Truck Stop, RV Park... etc. The possibilities seem endless...

It seems the trends are shifting to High Speed Wireless Internet as a way of eventually delivering Phone Service (VoIP), TV Programming, and internet content.

Will WiFi be the next Telecom, Cable, and Internet entrepreneurial darling?

My question is... any of you involved in WiFi directly, what is your experience, what is your educated opinions (or uneducated)...

Any Community WiFi projects you are aware of?

I ran into one I found interesting in Portland... I have no affiliation with them at all... http://www.personaltelco.net/static/index.html

WiMax is exploding... Large Towns... even whole STATES are working to provide WiFi every where.

In TN they are passing legislation to prevent Municipalities from offering WiFi as a Utility... Interesting thought.

The world is a buzz it seems with the idea of being "PLUGED IN" every where you go.

I was at Office Max on Wednesday. Did you know they have a whole isle for office related WiFi solutions? 3 years ago... that isle didn't exist.

I have a wireless router at my home office. We recently got a new computer for my kids and installed a wireless card inside it. Now, they can put that computer any place they want in our home (as long as it has power) and get on line to email their friends, do home work, research, etc.

If you were parked in my driveway... or even on the street... you'd like find my wireless signal. I've got the computers all fire walled up... but someone could easily gain access to that network without me knowing. There are steps of course I can take... but, my neighbors are not close enough to get the signal... and I'm not worried (yet) about some marauding internet bandit driving down the street looking for FREE access (however, I do admit these folks do exist).

On the other hand... WiFi on a LARGE scale... HUGE up to 25+ mile internet bubbles (even small 1000 feet or 4-5 square acre WiFi boxes)with sophisticated firmware controlling the comings and goings of those connected presents a very secure, very kewl possibility for entrepreneurs to take advantage of.

I was thinking of General Contractors building subdivisions.... imagine them building WiFi into the home... putting up a small WiFi Dish that would cover the whole development... and now, even after they sell off the homes, they're generating an additional stream of income from the Internet they can now offer all those in that development.

I say it can't get here fast enough! Take down the telephone lines, take down the cable lines... Go wireless and restore the land scape as much as possible. Imagine how much more beautiful the world would be if we were able to get rid of some of the darn telephone poles and cable lines and boxes every where...

Of course... power still needs to run their lines... UNTIL some form of self sufficient energy is developed that home owners don't need to be plugged into the power grid for subsistence.

Mostly my opinion...

[Nick Temple]

I am pretty skeptical when it comes to any "infrastructure" plays, for a lot of reasons.

The trick is how to monetize it (other than selling the hardware). But I've seen some incredible innovations with people monetizing free wireless access in major metropolitan areas. (Think free wireless, user location targetting, and selling advertising).

If anyone here actually does this, think of me and send a check ...

My two bits ...

Nick

[Whitesell]

I've been using WiFi for a few years, and hotspots are expoding. Free hotspots are now so common anywhere you go that I never pay for access any more. Two years ago I did pay one of the national providers, but no more.

Many businesses are offering free access to attract customers (it works - I seek them out) yet others are still charging for it. As free access spreads I think it wil become harder and harder to monitize it unless you are the service or equipment provider.

Security is one of the major flaws I know of for wireless home networks. The problem is that wireless routers are taken out of the box and plugged in with no thought of security. Setting up the built-in security isn't very difficult, but is a real problem.

Yoursolutions, you know that you haven't secured your network. There ARE people driving around looking for your signal and they use these 'free' connections every day all over the world. There are even websites where they map all these unprotected networks. You mentioned you have firewalled your computers, which is very good, but did you know you are held responsible for anything someone does using your account? Someone can park on your street, connect to your wireless network, and do anything they want like sending millions of spam messages, hack into other computers, etc. These attacks originate from your account and you will be the one who will most likely be held responsible. Results could be something as simple as your ISP cancelling your account, or you could conceivably be visited by law enforcement if the infraction warrants law enforcement's involvement.

While no security is perfect, setting up simple wireless encryption like WEP, or requiring MAC authentication will stop 99.9% of the casual drive-by user and would at least show an effort on your part to secure your network if you ever were the victim of access theft.

Sorry, I kinda got off the topic a bit! Wireless security is something I'm concerned about and whenver I find out a client has a wireless network I strongly suggest thet set up some level of security that is already built in to the equipment they have.

Regards,

Jim Whitesell

I'm located 2 hours from the nearest Wal-Mart. There are less than 10,000 in population. We do have tourist traffic... but, our home is set back from the street, the signal isn't strong enough to go through the walls and even reach the street... in actuality... they'd likely have to sit on my porch or lawn.

I don't negate the actual security risks posed by most... and I do realize how having an open network is an issue in more densely populated different circumstances.

You make good points about personal home wifi. See if any are listed on that site you mentioned in Maob, UT... who knows I might just be listed.

[nk_needscash]

I have airport with sprint. I love it I take it everywhere with me.

[nk_needscash]

so WiFI is already on their way out because phone company already got the foothold of using aircard