fontastic.org - FON and free WiFi blog » 2007

FONs new competitor Whisher launched today January 30, 2007

We have reported on this first in October last year and today Mike Puchol and Ferran Moreno launched their free WiFi start-up Whisher (backed by Swisscom and Benchmark Capital). Whishers idea is that everyone should share their WiFi connection and be able to access Whisher APs around the world for free. But unlike FON, Whisher doesn't need you to change your routers firmware or use a special router but rather works on any computer (Linux, Mac, Windows) with any router - just download the software. Plus, you don't even have to share your bandwidth. It will still be free if you are just registered and don't have your own hotspot. It's also more about community: share files, chat and communicate with other Whishers whenever you have access to a whisher-abled hotspot.

Now this sounds all very promising and Ferran is convinced his idea would spread faster than Martins. However, while FON tries to bring ISPs on board, Whisher is clearly not adding any value for them. Cnet reports this morning that ISPs like Verizon or Time Warner Cable are not to be friendly towards WiFi sharers. "We've taken steps as a company to inform our customers that passive or active theft of our services is illegal, and people who violate these agreements can be prosecuted on a criminal and civil basis." says Maureen Huff, a spokeswoman for Time Warner Cable according to Cnet. This will be the most challenging part of Whishers new business at least here in the US.

The social aspect of Whisher might be really interesting, though. It's probably fun to see who is physically near you, to chat and exchange your thoughts, likes and dislikes (well, and files, too, of course). The huge success of social networking sites clearly show that getting in contact with people you have something in common with is an enormous part of being online if not the biggest driver at all.

We whish Whisher much success and hope competition will work in favour for the consumer.

FON and Germany-based Spotigo announced the introduction of a mobile Symbian/ Windows application that allows Foneros to find the next FON hotspot and automatically login as they reach it. The so called “FON Wi-Fi Connection Manager” will automatically detect the position of your mobile device and show the way to the closest FON access point. Software releases to other platforms are under development, Spotigo says.

(via Heise.de and this press release)

After having introduced a flat rate in the US - $29.95 per year to any number in the USA and Canada (50% discount available right now), Skype will also roll out per call (vs. per minute) prices in Europe in 2007. The premium subscription package (Skype Pro) for 2 EUR per month will allow users to call landline phones in "many countires" for a flat fee of 3.9 Euro Cents plus taxes (or equivalent currency). There is no per call charge if you subscribed to a flatrate, of course. There are a couple of extras such as:

Free Skype Voicemail
€30 off a SkypeIn number
Discounts on hardware

plus a few other gimmicks. For more infos see here.

Finally a mobile music player that really utilizes WiFi. Unlike the Zune, the SanDisk Sansa Connect portable audio player can download music via its WiFi connection and also stream internet radio! It can do this thanks to Zings software and service platform and a partnership with FON whereby all Foneros can access the Zing platform via any FON hotspot.

The Sansa Connect features a 2.2" TFT color display, 4GB on board plus microSD card slot, WiFi of course and USB 2.0. The Sansa Connect is 2.05 in. wide x 3.58 in. long x 0.63 in. high and will be available in March for around $250.

FON in 2007 January 9, 2007

First things first: happy New Year, fellow Foneros and all the best to you in 2007. After grassroots start in 2005 and some serious growth in 2006 it will probably be 2007 where we see whether or not goals can be met and who was right - the doubters or the enthusiasts.

Let’s have a look back on some goals and targets to be met this year:

Deliver more La Foneras (haven’t received the one I ordered yet)
Change the corporate image from revolution to social network
500.000 Foneros in 2007 (to reach operational break even)
Launch the Fonera 2.0 (formerly Liberator)
World power (just kidding)

We wish FON a successful year!

Breaking news: Apple iPhone announced

Ok, admited, this is off-topic (well, if the iPhone is WiFi enabled then maybe even not) but while I was writing a new post I stumbled upon macrumorslive.com. Check it out, it's live right now.