FON wooing "foneros" with $5 router

Remember that FON service we brought to you a few months back, which aims to create a worldwide network of private hotspots wherein members can hop onto any other members' routers for free VoIP calling? Well after receiving a fresh infusion of cash from Google and Skype, the company is storming into the U.S. and Europe with a deal straight out of a domestic wireless carrier's playbook: give away or heavily subsidize the hardware in order to lock customers into long-term commitments. In this case, Fon is "selling" Linksys routers for $5-a-pop (or five Euros in Europe) in exchange for users agreeing to open up their network to other so-called "foneros" for 12 months, though by doing so, they are free to make calls from other members' hotspots during that period as well. As you'll recall, those folks unwilling to provide public access can still tap into other members' signal, but must pay $3-a-day for the privilege. The future of the company is no way assured, though, as this whole operation could go down in flames should Internet providers take FON to court for enabling their customers to share bandwidth; on the bright side, you'll only be out five bucks plus shipping and taxes if the business folds.

[Greg @ Jun 26th 2006 10:52AM]

damn, i already bought one from them at $33 shipped..

[BDahl @ Jun 26th 2006 11:03AM]

Heh heh heh... i've been wanting another Wrt54GL for a while now... $13 shipped is sweet! Another bonus is living in a small town in the middle of nowhere, Montana. Sweet deal Engadget!

[Andreas @ Jun 26th 2006 11:06AM]

Hmmm

My second router from them was for FREE. No S+H. Just free.

[slikone @ Jun 26th 2006 11:07AM]

I think I read somewhere taht you could flash your existing router with their firmware. If you can could you still sign up for the year service-for-access?

[Greg @ Jun 26th 2006 11:33AM]

mine some how flashed itself back to linksys firmware.

[binaryvisions @ Jun 26th 2006 11:41AM]

So... May I assume that this Linux based router is flashable with normal firmware, thus removing the Fon sharing?

Not, of course, that I would ever do such a thing.

[PanMan @ Jun 26th 2006 12:00PM]

If the company would go down, you'd still have the router, which you could reflash to work without the Fon network. But they are talking to ISP's, to make this legal (and giving them a cut of the revenue).
And, altho their original plan was mainly aimed at VoIP, currently the seem to be more focused on Wifi in general, with laptops and other clients. Actually, you need a browser to login to the Fon network, so many Voip phones won't work (those without a browser, that is).

[Major Malfunction @ Jun 26th 2006 12:35PM]

I wouldn't expect this to move forward much. Why would anyone want to open their $24+ a month broadband up to every net jockey that comes along? I know I don't want my neighbors on my line. The moment something illegal happens, they'll knock on MY address.

No thanks. Isolate personal access (in the home), and open up commercial access (City WiFi, Coffee Shops, Libraries, etc), where liability can be controlled.

Plus, this isn't a new idea, just a new attempt. And, like the old attempts, regulation and lack of market penetration will equal the demise of the business.

[Linds @ Jun 26th 2006 1:05PM]

Well I know for one that you can set limits to how much bandwidth you will share.

It seems to me they would also give you some control as to the content accessed though your bandwith but I don't know this for fact.

[Colin @ Jun 26th 2006 1:41PM]

I bought mine. Frankly, I am quite excited about it and I will promote it. I had this idea two years ago, but never got my butt in gear to do it. I think it is great and support these guys 100%. if anything, it is a heavily subsidized router.

[Matt @ Jun 26th 2006 2:08PM]

Hmm nice idea but I cant see this being very popular in the UK - something like 90% of all broadband connections here have "fair use" clauses or bandwidth caps meaning if you download over say 1/2/5/10/25/50/100/etc gig a month (depending on how much you pay each month) you get extra charges and/or are cut off for the rest of the month.

Seems a bit cheeky that this company is expecting to get to use your bandwidth for free, and then charge people to use it! Its not like anyone with broadband doesn't realy have a router so there is little incentive!

Maybe I've got the wrong end fo the stick - someone fill me and tell me how this isn't a total con?!

[Scott @ Jun 27th 2006 1:21AM]

For you all complaining about the "opening your network" part, you can stop. You have the option to limit the bandwidth given to the 'open'. I'm in a very popular metropolis, there is only one other person in the state registered, and it's nowhere near me. You shouldn't have any problems with your network.

[sylvain @ Jun 27th 2006 6:23AM]

Someone who opens his connection to others has the right to use other open connections for free. That's the catch.
Now imagine that you own a wifi mobile phone (comming soon) with a sip account, you could make calls for free using someone else bandwith or yours. How cool is this?
The whole mobile business is about to change. You won't pay for the time spent on the network but you will pay a monthly fee for accessing the network + unlimited time, just like the ISP business model.

[Markbloke @ Jun 29th 2006 6:55AM]

Just a hypothetical question here...
What happens if some generous Fonero decides to share their login details among family and friends? It doesn't cost the Fonero anything to do so and results in thousands of freeloaders who aren't putting anything back themselves. How is user authentication going to work?

[williambq @ Nov 24th 2007 1:12PM]

Very interesting. Calls to Canada?