Thursday, April 26, 2007
New FONspot Software
We've just released a beta download that turns your Intel based Mac or Linux based computer into a FONspot. Below is a video of FON founder and CEO Martin Varsavsky demonstrating the software. We would like to add Windows or Vista capability in a later version but it's proved difficult so far. If you know how to do this please let me know!
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Wednesday, April 25, 2007
FON Tour and La Fontenna!
Below is a video of FON founder and CEO Martin Varsavsky giving a tour of FON's features and showing the new La Fontenna!
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Monday, April 23, 2007
FON teams up with Time Warner Cable!
Time Warner Cable customers are invited to join the FON movement! The official press release is below. I want to thank the team at Time Warner Cable for all of their support.
If you are new to FON follow this link for details about us.
MADRID, Spain — April 23, 2007 — FON today announced a partnership with Time Warner Cable which allows Time Warner Cable broadband subscribers to access the world’s largest and fastest-growing WiFi network. The partnership specifically allows Time Warner Cable subscribers to become FON community members and create FON access points via their home or business broadband connection. Furthermore, the same subscribers would enjoy free WiFi access around the world, wherever FON has partner ISPs.With nearly 60,000 FON community members in the U.S. alone, FON is the largest WiFi network in the United States. Hotspot providers are FON community members (called Foneros) who share their unused bandwidth via a FON router in exchange for free WiFi access when roaming through any other FON access point. Through this partnership, Time Warner Cable subscribers will have the opportunity to be members of the FON community and enjoy free unlimited WiFi access at any of FON’s partner ISP WiFi hotspots.
Time Warner Cable is an American cable television company that currently operates in 33 states, with 13.4 million basic cable subscribers and 6.6 million residential high-speed data subscribers. By partnering with FON, Time Warner Cable subscribers will benefit from being able to use next generation WiFi devices such as WiFi phones, game consoles and MP3 players, both inside and outside the home.
La Fonera router is secure out-of-the-box and offers two distinct WiFi channels. One channel is for the exclusive use of its owner; the second channel is shared with other Foneros. The La Fonera increases security through an encrypted private network and Foneros decide how much bandwidth to share. Public users cannot access the private network and there is no anonymous usage.
“We are pleased to welcome Time Warner Cable subscribers to the global FON community,” said Joanna Rees, CEO of FON U.S. “Success for FON depends on extending Internet access to our user bases outside the home or office without requiring individuals to rely on costly and problematic remote access solutions.”
About FON
FON is building the world's largest WiFi community. Founded in 2006 in Madrid, Spain, FON's mission is to stimulate growth of WiFi Internet access through its WiFi sharing community of "Foneros". FON's La Fonera WiFi routers, have been specifically designed to enable Foneros to share their home access points with the FON Community. In return for sharing, Foneros gain free WiFi access everywhere in the world. FON's investors include Google, Skype, Index Ventures and Sequoia Capital. For more information, please go to www.fon.com.
Posted by Steve Ross on Business
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Thursday, April 19, 2007
Linksys and Buffalo Routers
Over the next 4 weeks all foneros who received a Linksys or Buffalo router from us will receive an offer for a free La Fonera. I’ve received a lot of questions about the Linksys and Buffalo routers. Below is a quick summary:
If your Linksys or Buffalo router is running an old firmware version we are unable to determine if the router is online. This prevents us from updating our maps. On the most recent firmware version this problem has been solved. If you are not running the most recent version of our firmware please check the downloads page!
For many users replacing the Linksys or Buffalo router with a free La Fonera will be the easier path. We are continuing to support the Linksys and Buffalo routers at this time. Eventually we will cease support for these. An end date has not been determined. I encourage you to take advantage of the free La Fonera offer when you receive it.
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Monday, April 16, 2007
Fonero Gets Fonero Update
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Thursday, April 12, 2007
Life With Skype
Two weeks ago I cancelled my long distance plan and switched to Skype. I’m using the SMC Skype WiFi Phone for voice calls and I have a Logitech webcam for video conferencing. Everything works well with the SMC and it has about the same range as my cordless phone. I’ve made calls while streaming video and haven’t experienced any degradation in call quality. Since Skype is an investor in FON the SMC phone has the added advantage of working at all FON spots or any open WiFi hotspot. The Logitech webcam works well but I won’t win any awards for cinematography. It’s great for letting the kids talk to their grandparents. They (the kids and grandparents) get a real kick out of seeing one another on the screen and Skype to Skype calls are always free!
Skype has a deal for US and Canadian residents; unlimited calls to those countries for $29.95 per year. I was paying over $400.00 a year for unlimited long distance prior to this. I kept my traditional landline because Skype does not offer 911 service. This also allows everyone to continue calling me with no change in phone number. If you’re paying too much for phone calls consider Skype. You can save money and get a cool WiFi SMC Skype phone. After two weeks I can’t figure out why I didn’t do this before.
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Monday, April 9, 2007
What's Next
In the video below FON founder and CEO Martin Varsavsky talks about upcoming FON products and R&D while driving around Taipei.
Link: sevenload.com
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Friday, April 6, 2007
Free WiFi With Ads
Today if you are not a Fonero and you find a FON wifi signal you can view Skype, Google and Excite Japan for free because they are our investors. You can also pay 3 Euros or Dollars for 24 hours access, and 2 Euros or Dollars for any additional days. We are now experimenting with the possibility of ad driven access. The idea is that someone can watch a viral type ad and is then allowed to surf 30 minutes. If you want to surf longer, watch another ad. Of course you can still become a Linus and share a little bandwidth at home to roam the world for free with no commercials. You could also become an alien and pay for access without commercials.
Soon we’ll be deploying our flat panel Fontennas that extend the range of Fonera to about 200 meters / 600 feet. The rollout of the Fontennas will give us greater visibility and further drive the spread of FON! This may be a good time to try our ad experiment. We are still working out the details and would like your feedback. We intend to use the money from ads to subsidize our growth. We also need to figure out a model for sharing the ad revenue with our Bills and ISP’s. Any ideas and feedback you have would be greatly appreciated!
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Wednesday, April 4, 2007
Worlds Smallest WiFi Chip?
With the popularity of WiFi growing it’s no surprise to see major developments in the technology surrounding it. Now NXP (formerly Phillips) has announced a 5 X 5 millimeter WiFi Chip! Obviously aimed at the handset market this and other developments are great news for those who love WiFi!
Wi-FIplanet.com reported more details on the chip:The GBM220 chip supports 802.11b/g and integrates the radio, baseband and MAC in a single 81-pin package that measures 5 x 5 mm. A single antenna for the device will support it and a Bluetooth chip, as well. It will also support NXP's power management, and will meet the usual Wi-Fi requirements for WPA2 and WMM, plus Cisco Compatible Extensions (CCX) for better use with Cisco infrastructure found in enterprise WLANs.
Take a look at the picture of the chip below: (you may have to squint)
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Monday, April 2, 2007
Attention Retailers
We're extending our offer to retailers through April. If you live in an eligible area you can purchase La Fonera for 20€ to sell in your shop.
La Fonera is a special kind of WiFi router. We call it a Social Router. That’s because when you activate your La Fonera, you become part of the FON Community. Members of the FON Community share their WiFi at home, and in return get free WiFi wherever they find a FON Access Point. La Fonera is also a Social Router because you can personalize the page that other Foneros see when they log on to your FON Access Point. So you can tell people a bit about yourself or your local area, or just say ‘hi’ to your fellow Foneros.
This promotion is now available in EN, FR, IT, SW an DE! You can get more information at www.spread-fon.com
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