Steve Jobs Interested in Wi-Fi Sharing

MacRumors · Oct 30, 2007, 03:02 PM

AppleInsider reports that Steve Jobs recently met with Martin Varsavsky about FON, a company that is trying to provide "WiFi for Everyone". Steve Jobs was reportedly "very interested" in FON's technology and service.

FON is described as the largest WiFi community in the world and works by offering users a community WiFi router that allows individuals to securely share their internet connection. In exchange for setting up this public WiFi node, you are allowed to use other FON users' WiFi spots around the world.

Quote:

"I really think [Jobs] liked the idea of FON. I think he loves the idea of a world where people share WiFi. That I could tell," Varsavsky said. "I think he would like for there to be an opporunity for everyone to share WiFi."

FON addresses security concerns by separating the connection into an encrypted private and public network.

Apple is likely interested in the possibility of a public Wifi network for use with its iPhone and iPod touch devices.

Article Link

Eidorian · Oct 30, 2007, 03:03 PM

I'm up for free wi-fi access. What keeps anyone from using iPhone or iPod access though?

arn · Oct 30, 2007, 03:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Eidorian

I'm up for free wi-fi access. What keeps anyone from using iPhone or iPod access though?

Password protected. you need to be a FON user.

arn

Eidorian · Oct 30, 2007, 03:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by arn

Password protected. you need to be a FON user.

arn

That is true for FON but you can set open access as well.

What I meant was for open spots specifically for the iPod Touch and iPhone.

twoodcc · Oct 30, 2007, 04:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Eidorian

I'm up for free wi-fi access. What keeps anyone from using iPhone or iPod access though?

me too. sounds pretty interesting.

uandir1 · Oct 30, 2007, 04:26 PM

http://counternotions.com/2007/10/26/sj-meeting-video/

this is where appleinsider got their info - it's a 5 minute video clip describing the meeting with jobs. =)

Rojo · Oct 30, 2007, 03:11 PM

This is a genius idea -- I really hope Apple goes with it.

misfit356tsw · Oct 30, 2007, 03:21 PM

Does anyone know the nitty gritty details of how it works?

backspinner · Oct 30, 2007, 03:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by misfit356tsw

Does anyone know the nitty gritty details of how it works?

it doesn't. we have such a free router but are unable to set it up with our Macs in the home...

hunterjoules · Oct 30, 2007, 03:26 PM

I'm sure the Cable companies aren't very happy with this news. I wouldn't be surprised if FON users found their service terminated not long after they started sharing their internet connection.

It sounds like a great concept, provided the ISPs don't try to put up a fight.

plumbingandtech · Oct 30, 2007, 03:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hunterjoules

I'm sure the Cable companies aren't very happy with this news. I wouldn't be surprised if FON users found their service terminated not long after they started sharing their internet connection.

It sounds like a great concept, provided the ISPs don't try to put up a fight.

I wonder if cable companies can say something like, "you can't string your cable to your neighbors so they can watch TV, same goes for your Internet"

It will be interesting to see how this plays out.

0racle · Oct 30, 2007, 03:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by plumbingandtech

I wonder if cable companies can say something like, "you can't string your cable to your neighbors so they can watch TV, same goes for your Internet"

It will be interesting to see how this plays out.

Most consumer ISP's already have this clause in the user agreement.

frogger2020 · Oct 30, 2007, 03:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hunterjoules

I'm sure the Cable companies aren't very happy with this news. I wouldn't be surprised if FON users found their service terminated not long after they started sharing their internet connection.

It sounds like a great concept, provided the ISPs don't try to put up a fight.

I have been a FON user for about a year and had no problems. There is one problem. I have never seen another FON network that I could use. I feel like I am the lone voice screaming into the wind.

PoitNarf · Oct 30, 2007, 03:42 PM

How about Mr. Jobs and company give the iPhone and iPod Touch the capability to connect to wireless networks that require 802.1x authentication schemes first, then worry about these other Wi-Fi plans.

Hugin777 · Oct 30, 2007, 03:45 PM

What if someone uses your connection to hack into the Pentagon, or share child porn, or something like that ?

I guess you would get all the blame, right ?

Jetson · Oct 30, 2007, 03:23 PM

I wish there was some way to tell where Wi-Fi hotspots were located.

There doesn't seem to be any reliable mapping system or register or anything really. A few websites that aren't complete.

You kind of have to walk around like Mr. Magoo, hoping to run into a hotspot.

spazzcat · Oct 30, 2007, 03:26 PM

Does anyone know how ISP will respond to this?

hunterjoules · Oct 30, 2007, 03:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by spazzcat

Does anyone know how ISP will respond to this?

My thoughts exactly.

~Shard~ · Oct 30, 2007, 03:29 PM

I wonder if Google will have a part to play in something like this based on the current rumors...

EagerDragon · Oct 30, 2007, 03:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by spazzcat

Does anyone know how ISP will respond to this?

Negativly unless you have a bussiness service.

killerrobot · Oct 30, 2007, 04:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by spazzcat

Does anyone know how ISP will respond to this?

Fon is huge here in Madrid; there are over 200 wifi spots available just in my neighborhood.

I remember seeing a commercial for it and it seemed to me that they were the ISP -they provided the access, router, installation for free as long as you agree to keep the wireless connection open for other Fon users, who do have passwords etc. to get onto your network. They in return make money from people not hosting a WAP and therefore have to buy an account to access the Fon WAPs around them.

The commercial wasn't super clear, and neither is the webpage, but that's how it seemed it worked. So if your willing to share the bandwidth they provide you, you get free internet and free access to all other Fon WAPs.

Virgil-TB2 · Oct 30, 2007, 05:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by killerrobot

Fon is huge here in Madrid; there are over 200 wifi spots available just in my neighborhood.

I remember seeing a commercial for it and it seemed to me that they were the ISP -they provided the access, router, installation for free as long as you agree to keep the wireless connection open for other Fon users, who do have passwords etc. to get onto your network. They in return make money from people not hosting a WAP and therefore have to buy an account to access the Fon WAPs around them.

The commercial wasn't super clear, and neither is the webpage, but that's how it seemed it worked. So if your willing to share the bandwidth they provide you, you get free internet and free access to all other Fon WAPs.

Woah.

Sounds fantastic.

Imagine if Apple and Google joined up and used the bandwidth option to position themselves as ISP's in this way. Free Wi-Fi all over.

HobeSoundDarryl · Oct 30, 2007, 03:33 PM

The main challenge being that almost all consumers have a "use" agreement that prohibits them from sharing their connections in this way. I think the idea is fantastic, but the cell phone companies (who just happen to also be the companies on the other end of your DSL/cable modem connections that you might share if you wanted to do this) want to be sure that a world of free wifi doesn't exist, and thus endanger very, VERY lucrative cell phone revenue streams.

With broad adoption of a FON concept, plus iphones with software like SKYPE, it is easy to imagine near free wireless communications (cell phone industry nearly killed in a single shot). But, let's see if any FON scenario every allows us to get there.

mdntcallr · Oct 30, 2007, 03:34 PM

i'd rather keep my Wifi and bandwidth to myself. better speed for me.

it's what i pay for.

there would need to be a good reason to share for me to change my mind.

nukiduz · Oct 30, 2007, 03:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mdntcallr

i'd rather keep my Wifi and bandwidth to myself. better speed for me.

it's what i pay for.

there would need to be a good reason to share for me to change my mind.

how about being able to connect to others' spots?

Oct 30, 2007, 03:03 PM	#2
Eidorian macrumors G3 Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Indiana	I'm up for free wi-fi access. What keeps anyone from using iPhone or iPod access though? __________________ MRoogle it! hikari T7500 2.2 GHz / 4 GB / 320 GB / GMA X3100 / 10.5.8 chobimaru Core i5 750 2.66 GHz / 4 GB / 640 GB / 4830 / Windows 7

Oct 30, 2007, 04:26 PM	#6
uandir1 macrumors newbie Join Date: Jun 2007	here's where AppleInsider got their info on FON http://counternotions.com/2007/10/26/sj-meeting-video/ this is where appleinsider got their info - it's a 5 minute video clip describing the meeting with jobs. =) __________________ Macbook Pro 15" 2.16Ghz, 120GB HD, 2GB RAM

Oct 30, 2007, 03:29 PM	#19
~Shard~ macrumors Demi-God Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: 1123.6536.5321	I wonder if Google will have a part to play in something like this based on the current rumors... __________________ My riches consist not in the extent of my possessions, but in the fewness of my wants. - J. Brotherton

Oct 30, 2007, 03:34 PM	#24
mdntcallr macrumors 65816 Join Date: Aug 2000 Location: Los Angeles, CA	i'd rather keep my Wifi and bandwidth to myself. better speed for me. it's what i pay for. there would need to be a good reason to share for me to change my mind. __________________ "Bite my Shiny Metal Ass!" Bender (Futurama)

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Oct 30, 2007, 03:11 PM	#7
Rojo macrumors 65816 Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: New York City	This is a genius idea -- I really hope Apple goes with it.

Oct 30, 2007, 03:21 PM	#8
misfit356tsw macrumors newbie Join Date: Oct 2007	Does anyone know the nitty gritty details of how it works?

Oct 30, 2007, 03:26 PM	#10
hunterjoules macrumors member Join Date: Jan 2007	I'm sure the Cable companies aren't very happy with this news. I wouldn't be surprised if FON users found their service terminated not long after they started sharing their internet connection. It sounds like a great concept, provided the ISPs don't try to put up a fight.

Oct 30, 2007, 03:42 PM	#14
PoitNarf macrumors 65816 Join Date: May 2007 Location: Northern NJ	How about Mr. Jobs and company give the iPhone and iPod Touch the capability to connect to wireless networks that require 802.1x authentication schemes first, then worry about these other Wi-Fi plans.

Oct 30, 2007, 03:45 PM	#15
Hugin777 macrumors regular Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: Copenhagen	What if someone uses your connection to hack into the Pentagon, or share child porn, or something like that ? I guess you would get all the blame, right ?

Oct 30, 2007, 03:23 PM	#16
Jetson macrumors 6502 Join Date: Oct 2003	I wish there was some way to tell where Wi-Fi hotspots were located. There doesn't seem to be any reliable mapping system or register or anything really. A few websites that aren't complete. You kind of have to walk around like Mr. Magoo, hoping to run into a hotspot.

Oct 30, 2007, 03:26 PM	#17
spazzcat macrumors regular Join Date: Jun 2007	Does anyone know how ISP will respond to this?

Oct 30, 2007, 03:33 PM	#23
HobeSoundDarryl macrumors regular Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Hobe Sound, FL (20 miles north of Palm Beach)	The main challenge being that almost all consumers have a "use" agreement that prohibits them from sharing their connections in this way. I think the idea is fantastic, but the cell phone companies (who just happen to also be the companies on the other end of your DSL/cable modem connections that you might share if you wanted to do this) want to be sure that a world of free wifi doesn't exist, and thus endanger very, VERY lucrative cell phone revenue streams. With broad adoption of a FON concept, plus iphones with software like SKYPE, it is easy to imagine near free wireless communications (cell phone industry nearly killed in a single shot). But, let's see if any FON scenario every allows us to get there.