Google deals with Sony, Motorola, and city councils as it works for free WiFi

IDG has some interesting details on just how Google plans to work this whole free WiFi thing, including their efforts at interoperability with device makers such as Sony, Motorola, Nintendo, Siemens, and Philips. Apparently, a few development groups are even coming to Google "behind [their] CEO's back" in instances of potential voice applications for the proposed San Francisco network, and the current one in Google's hometown of Mountain View. Along with the challenges of getting the PSP and other devices online, Google is looking at ways to monetize their network, which looks to involve a bandwidth capped free version, along with a premium version that could be resold. They're also working on location based advertising, allowing merchants to ping you with ads when you enter their area, making targeting more effective. Sounds like they have quite a bit to work through, especially with getting through all the bureaucracy involved in San Francisco, but hopefully it won't be long until they're busting out this free, VoIP-loving good stuff all over.

[Via Joystiq]

[Asher @ Feb 4th 2006 3:38AM]

I, for one, would like to welcome our new GoogleOverlords!

[Mr. Baby Man @ Feb 4th 2006 3:49AM]

I almost 'dugg' this story on digg until I followed it to its source and realized it was a story I dugg in the first place!

[_Mazza_ @ Feb 4th 2006 5:18AM]

They could use advertising to spread the cost. E.g when you connect to the internet you are redirected to a companies homepage and then you can carry on browsing

[jason @ Feb 4th 2006 10:46AM]

free wifi for just a couple of ads! I agree. Let welcome our overlords...All Hail GOOGLE

[Matthew Baggett @ Feb 4th 2006 10:53AM]

3 - I quite think that would be quite awsome. Would you sell advertising by the hit or by the mile? X-D

[Kimo Crossman @ Feb 4th 2006 11:20PM]

In an attempt to rollout a Citywide Wireless Internet plan (TechConnect) two major approaches being considered by San Francisco which may significantly encroach on the public's privacy. The two options are a for-profit solution which will finance the solution by monetizing the public's privacy or grants from Homeland Security. This occurs in the context of elected officials and city administrators patting themselves on the back for what the voters approved (2004) in a watch law ordinance that makes Patriot Act requests difficult for the Federal government to pursue in San Francisco.

The targeted advertising solution (google and others) would track all the email and surfing habits of any user. This information could be used as in Gmail and Amazon to send specific advertising. It is of course , also available for National Security Letters and other legal methods which would not be presented within the legal context of San Francisco - avoiding the Watch Law. While networks can be created that do not track a user's private information (no server logs, etc) that is not a method being promoted publically by vendors like Google and in fact is partly the reason the Justice Department and Google are now fighting over production of user's search records - Google can't say they just don't have the information. While there are questions about Privacy in the RFP, they were specifically written as Open Ended rather than as Minimal Standards. Public Advocates and Organizations like ACLU, EFF.org and EPIC.org have all written and some have spoken about their concerns with this approach Before the RFP was created and released - yet no changes were made. Also DTIS has the ability to waive any RFP requirements in the contract negotiation process anyhow.

The other funding concept that is being quietly discussed as a mechanism for the San Francisco Municipal Wireless solution is Homeland Security Grants - the calendar image below is from the city official Chris Vein who is in charge of the RFP process which requires bid submittals by 2006/2/21 - See Below

Washington Post: 2006-01-19 Fed Grants (Homeland Security) for Surveillance Cameras for Small Towns .. this seems related to Municipal Wireless funding efforts as well in San Francisco

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/01/18/AR2006011802324.html

The Homeland Security funding option: "Motorola�s proposal suggests that the city pitch the project as a public safety issue, and capitalize on grants from government organizations such as the Department of Homeland Security. They suggest that the network would help law enforcement by enabling the SFPD to put wireless cameras across the city cheaply, and that the signal from a particular camera could be routed wirelessly to officers in their cars as they approached the scene." (thanks to JacksonWest for summary)


blog www.webnetic.net


Combined brief ACLU, EFF.org and Epic.org
http://www.eff.org/deeplinks/archives/004078.php

SF Watch Law Re Patriot Act
http://www.sfgov.org/site/uploadedfiles/bdsupvrs/about/watch_law_program.pdf

Jackson West summary of TechConnect RFI/C submittals (the step before the current RFP process)
http://gigaom.com/2005/10/18/politics-of-san-francisco-wifi-project/

Chris Vein DTIS Acting Director's calendar showing a meeting planned with Motorola (obtained through a Public Record's request)

[plui @ Feb 4th 2006 11:52PM]

I sure hope these G-Spots are easier to find than the other ones...

[aaron @ Feb 5th 2006 2:44AM]

Is anyone else scared of how much google has been keeping track of its users?

Have people seen http://google.com/searchhistory/ lately? It's downright scary!!

--aaron
http://bentstreet.com

[Ross Perkins @ Feb 6th 2006 11:45AM]

Google's a bit smarter than to just require an ad to pop-up every few minutes. They're more likely to use your location-based info to customize the Google Ads that you're already seeing (like on their searches, and on pages like engadget) to the KFC you're sitting nearby (for example).

[John James @ Feb 9th 2006 1:09AM]

You got to give it to Google. They are always trying to make a buck... And they usually do a good job at it!