FON

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This article is about sharing Wi-Fi Internet Access. For other uses see Fon (disambiguation).
FON Logo
FON Logo

Contents

[edit] Company

FON Technology S.L. is a company of British law, registered and based in Madrid, Spain. Led by Martin Varsavsky, FON was first presented at the O'Reilly Emerging Technology Conference by Ejovi Nuwere, the founding CEO of FON USA. The conference was held from January 24-26, 2006 in the United States.

On February 6, 2006 FON received a 21.70 million dollar grant from Google, Index Ventures, Sequoia Capital, and Skype Technologies SA, who continue to support the company. At present, the Fon software remains in a Beta phase.

Though the company is viewed as a WiFi community, and does subsidize the customized routers sold in its online store, it is a for profit company. Fon makes money by charging a usage fee to "Aliens" for day passes which can be used to connect to the internet through a Fon access point. "Bills" are also charged a reduced usage fee when they connect to the internet though another user's router.

Martin Varsavsky aims to "build a global standard for sharing WiFi" ([1]). Though critics believe the "Fon movement" will die with emerging technology, Varsavsk believes his company is not limited to just one technology and plans to expand the Fon service into emerging technologies like WiMAX ([2]). According to Varsavsky, WiMax has the potential to greatly increase Fon's popularity by increasing signal range and coverage.

[edit] The FON network

Anyone can join the Fon community, but only broadband internet subscribers can take advantage of the Fon network by purchasing a La Fonera (roughly meaning in Spanish, "the Fon-ator"), a customized router from the Fon Shop [3], and sharing their connection through it.

There are three types of Foneros, Fon community members:

  • The first is an Alien. An Alien is a user who does not share his connection using a La Fonera social router. Aliens must pay to use the WiFi signals of other Foneros.

The other two types of community members share their broadband connections. A broadband internet subscriber who purchases a La Fonera router, has two options. He can either share his internet connection for free or for a profit. The former is known within the community as a Linus, the latter a Bill.

  • Linus (after Linus Torvalds) members are compensated for sharing their connection by having free WiFi access through any other Fonero’s router.
  • Bills (after Bill Gates) receive half of the fees, currently $3.00, charged to Aliens for a day pass to connect through their router.

Linus members tend to be personal users, while more businesses have Bill accounts.

Skype, an emerging VoIP company, has partnered with Fon to provide an $160 package deal that includes a WiFi phone capable of connecting to the Fon network and a La Fonera Router[4]. Alone, La Fonera routers currently cost approximately $30.00. On special events or certain markets, Fon offers the router for free.

[edit] Controversy

Fon has met with several criticisms:

  • In some countries WiFi-sharers could be held responsible for the actions of those who are allowed in their access points.
  • Many broadband providers disallow re-selling of their services, as Bill Foneros do. Others don't allow it even when there is no monetary gain, as Linus Foneros do. Fon has tried to negotiate explicit authorizations from ISPs.
  • Some countries require bandwidth providers to receive an authorization. If Fon is considered as such, it should be registered and comply with the requirements.
  • Supporters of altruistic Wifi communities dislike the commercial angle of the operation in spite of the "community" esthetics, and the presence of Bills and Aliens.
  • The Fonera router is based in Linux GPL software and Fon complies with it offering the source code, but cryptographic signatures prevent the modification by the device owners.
  • The role of Varsavasky in his earlier venture Jazztel is remembered by some as incapable of fulfilling his promises.

[edit] ISPs that allow FON service (by country)

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[edit] ISPs that do NOT allow FON service (by country)

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  • Switzerland
    • Cablecom

[edit] References

  1. ^ E-mail conversation with the customer support of Utsikt, 23-29 Nov, 2006.

[edit] External links

[edit] See also

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