Paris Mayor Using Wi-Fi to Attract Youth
"We can't leave Asian cities like Seoul or Tokyo, or American cities like San Francisco or Philadelphia, to make the running [to dominate] in digital matters," said Delanoe this year when he announced plans to create 400 free wireless hotspots. The city also hopes to lay fiber optic cables to 80 percent of its buildings by 2010.
From The Baltimore Sun, November 19, 2006
US: Broadband Not Always Full Speed Ahead
The United States still lags behind many countries when it comes to broadband speeds and prices. In 2005, it ranked sixth globally on a price-per-kilobit basis, according to the International Telecommunications Union. Prices were cheaper in Japan, South Korea, Taiwan, Iceland and Sweden, countries where the government took an active role in promoting broadband use.
From New York Times, November 18, 2006
NETGEAR Flourishing in Middle East
NETGEAR Middle East has registered revenues of US$ 2 million from its initial six months of operations.
From AME Info, November 18, 2006
UN: Broadband Is a Utility Like Water, Electricity
Broadband is becoming so vital for businesses and offers such competitive advantages that it is being compared to utilities such as water and electricity, the Information Economy Report 2006 (1) contends -- and that is disturbing news for developing countries, where broadband access is scarce and the basics needed to provide it at reasonable cost are often lacking.
From UN Conference on Trade and Development, November 16, 2006
WiMAX Widely Available for $30 in Seattle Area
Consumers in Tacoma and surrounding communities can now get wireless Internet service just about any place they can find a power outlet. All they have to do is pay about 30 bucks a month, rent a modem and plug it in. Clearwire uses WiMax, which has a range of between one and 1.5 miles from the access point. Most Wi-Fi networks have a range of a few hundred feet or less. Top speeds: 1.5 megabits per second. The $29.99 service provides a download speed of 758 kilobits per second.
From Tacoma News Tribune, November 16, 2006
O2 Dismisses Mobile-Phone Wi-Fi
Mobile operator O2 has decided to put its weight behind GSM and 3G mobile technology instead of Wi-Fi in its next generation of phones. The operator rejected Wi-Fi hotzones and poured cold water on WiMax at a London summit yesterday, which it convened to boast about its current high growth rates of O2.
From TechWorld.com, November 16, 2006
Microsoft Enters Municipal Wi-Fi Realm
Redmond, Wash.-based Microsoft is partnering with MetroFi Inc., a Mountain View, Calif., company now building a wireless network in Portland, Ore.
From BusinessWire, November 15, 2006
Clearwire Wireless Internet Service to Seattle
Clearwire announced today it has officially launched its service in Seattle, Everett, Tacoma and surrounding areas.
From Clearwire, November 15, 2006
EarthLink Makes Muni Wi-Fi Lemonade
"Our heritage is dial-up," Reinwand said. "We've built a significant base of broadband users, but ultimately, we're beholden to the incumbent [telecommunications] carriers, and it's hard to get our prices down to where we can make a compelling offer."
From Computerworld, November 15, 2006
A Quicker Mesh-to-Money Setup?
Cisco's Vincent says the vast majority of RFPs are coming from cities with a population of 100,000 or less, and that creates a repeatable model Cisco can work with.
From Wi-Fi Planet, November 15, 2006
