The following article might be way premature and reaching somewhat, but it has some interesting research data suggesting that Google is preparing to at the very least reduce its own hosting by becoming a hosting company and at best, possibly someday providing free and/or low cost WiFi to others. Far fetched? Business 2.0 is calling this GoogleNet:

One of the cheapest ways would be for Google to blanket major cities with Wi-Fi, and evidence gathered by Business 2.0 suggests that the company may be trying to do just that. In April it launched a Google-sponsored Wi-Fi hotspot in San Francisco’s Union Square shopping district, built by a local startup called Feeva. Feeva is reportedly readying more free hotspots in California, Florida, New York, and Washington, and it’s possible that Google may be involved.

This is all guessing of course, but it does make sense that Google would want to cut its own bandwidth bills and enter into at least hosting itself. I remember reading that one of Google’s biggest problems was power. They consume huge amounts of power using all those servers, so perhaps GoogleDam would be just as likely to guess at the future. I would think a big part of future growth would include some sort of energy plans.

I’m not sure how excited folks would be with free, ad-supported and targeted, WiFi. Maybe many wouldn’t care if it was as unobtrusive as Google’s contextual ads. I remember several ISPs who were part of the dot com bust that tried to go with an ad-supported free internet connection. It didn’t go well for them, but none of them were Google. I think I’d rather pay a few bones a month and have truly free, unencumbered WiFi.

Admittedly I don’t know the budget or exact figures, but it sure seems with all the tax money that’s being paid (our property taxes continue to esclate) that somewhere in this money ‘free’ WiFi could be provided for all US citizens. Socialized WiFI? Hmm, could be controversial considering how many people don’t even have health care coverage in America.

With public libraries seemingly facing extinction thanks to escalating cuts in funding, perhaps these locations could or someday will be turned more into internet cafes? Almost all libraries provide internet, but maybe that’s the direction these locations could move further into to survive into the future. The library is a cool place, but I have to admit that with the internet its purpose and usefulness has declined. At least it’s that way in our household.

Did this post make you go hmm?

 Loading ...

• WiFi in public libraries
• Free WiFi in San Francisco, plans Google
• Google 20% project nets secure WiFi in San Francisco
• Best and worst hotel WiFi
• WiFi in planes likely by 2006, but how much will it cost?
• Company wants FCC OK in offering ad-supported broadband over radio spectrum