It's official. Google has blanketed Mountain View, California, with WiFi access. And it's free for its lucky 72,000 residents. Then again, for a wildly profitable company, it's easy to do things for free (apparently, the cost came to about $1 million for Google).
Next, Google will help provide WiFi access to San Francisco. Although, it will not be free and will also involve the support of Earthlink.
So, does Google want to be an ISP? Well, the company denies it.
Rather, Google is doing a couple things: learning about WiFi networks (such as with local advertising), as well as making a political statement that the Net should be open (ie, the "Net neutrality" debate).
Besides, this provided Google with a good amount of positive PR (yes, this firm is the maestro of PR).
I talked to Craig Settles, a wireless expert and the author of the book Fighting the Good Fight for Municipal Wireless. According to him: "First reports indicate that service is good, and it seems people's expectations have been properly managed, so there's not wailing and gnashing of teeth about issues such as needing customer premise equipment to get indoor coverage. The lack of live customer support is going to get some people's goat, but again, Google was clear about this all along."
Also, he has a great Snap Shot report on this. According to him: "Cities need to look at alternative funding sources to underwrite these networks so local governments can keep control of them. Rather than try to hit up hundreds of businesses to buy banner ads, a real shaky proposition, look at companies that can benefit by sponsor these networks. The key is finding companies that can benefit through the relationship."
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