Google and Skype Invest in Open Source Wi-Fi Network

6:30 am on February 6, 2006 | Category: Web Services, Wi-Fi, Wireless Technology

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Google and Skype have made plans to invest funds in a company called Fon, which aims to create a worldwide network of Wi-Fi users, who share access to their hotspots.

With additional funding from venture capital firms, Index Ventures and Sequoia Capital, the Fon project is due to receive a total of about $22 million in financing.

If successful, Fon will allow customers to join a network of internet hotspots around the world, and share wireless signals with other users.

One of the main challenges facing the project could be a legal contest from Internet Service Providers, many of which prohibit users from sharing their connection outside of their own household.

Fon claims that their idea wouldn’t cause ISPs to lose any business, as all members of the network would be required to maintain their own broadband internet connection. Their plan even involves splitting some of the revenue with ISPs, meaning that it would theoretically benefit everyone in the long run.

With big financial votes of confidence from search giant, Google, and VoIP provider, Skype, it appears that Fon could pick up a great deal of support, and hopefully help users around the world gain access to the internet more easily.

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    1. This news, combined with the Pocket PC’s allowed to work with Skype and WIFI conection are very good news for all of us, but I think that ISP are not rhe only ones that are going to complain about it, telephone companys are going to feel threatened. Let’s see what happends next…

      Comment by GRILLEX — February 14, 2006 #

    2. i’m italian and i’m sure that our telephone company (yes we have only one … ) is going to do it’s best to avoid the success of such a beautiful / simple / efficent / cost-effective / googlish idea.

      :-(

      Comment by schiaccianoci — February 15, 2006 #

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