The WanderPod, satellite internet and WiFi for disasters

Look, it's not so much that the WanderPod is overkill—which it is—it's just mainly that their scope is way too small for this application. It's a trailer with a generator, satellite internet connection, and open WiFi access intended to be deployed in disaster situations, right? But there are a couple of nagging points: first, while we appreciate the gesture, we think most people will agree that the phone infrastructure is way more important than end-user internet access in times of emergency. Second, WiFi has very short range (we so don't believe their WiFi sends and receives up to 2,000 feet away), so WanderPods would have to be deployed all over, and at $80,000 apiece, that's a spicy meatball. Third, satellite would be nigh useless in the case of bad weather; for instance, the stormy aftermath of a hurricane would render the sat connection on a WanderPod useless. Yeah, their heart is in the right place, but this is one instance in which a mesh WiMax network or even a proprietary technology would be best suited for delivery.

[Via Wired News]