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Google Launches Free WiFi For "Trusted Testers" in Mountain View, CA
wifi.google.com — BREAKING NEWS: Google lights up their free wifi for the first time! The link is a Google map of access points and dead spots in the Mountain View area. Expect to see this officially launch later this summer.
kevinrose- 2033 diggs
- digg it
- elpayo, on 10/12/2007, -42/+17How do you score these tips Kevin? You should write for Engadget.
- p9s50W5k4GUD2c6, on 10/12/2007, -6/+28What or WHO is a "trusted tester", Kevin? ;)
I'm sure this will be great... - mc7winkie, on 10/12/2007, -43/+3Digg the story simply because Kevin Rose submitted it. Yay!!!11!1! No, but seriously good digg.
- arunforce, on 10/12/2007, -1/+22I think trusted testers are only Google Employees.
- zebwinz, on 10/12/2007, -2/+20Man, that is a crap-ton of access points! Gotta love google!
- jonthegamer, on 10/12/2007, -12/+2and friends of employees
- ModernTenshi, on 10/12/2007, -9/+8I think several cantennas from Think Geek would take care of some of those access holes, or at least reduce them by quite a bit.
- ultrasoul, on 10/12/2007, -2/+10California here we come ...
- stou, on 10/12/2007, -0/+4Trusted testers are not necessarily affiliated with google, for some reason or another google invites some people to test stuff... if you are active on one of the google groups... or find bugs / suggest stuff to them.
- birdadderley, on 10/12/2007, -2/+3yeah, that's either a ton of wifi access or massive amounts of future cancer lawsuits... or both
- corevette, on 10/12/2007, -9/+10I'm a trusted tester and I'm just a 15 year old kid. No relations with google
- TheReport, on 10/12/2007, -1/+5It must be a fun time right now to be living in the Valley.
- Mike89, on 10/12/2007, -1/+2"I think several cantennas from Think Geek would take care of some of those access holes, or at least reduce them by quite a bit"
That shouldnt be getting modded down..
"I'm a trusted tester and I'm just a 15 year old kid. No relations with google"
Or that.
If you don't understand something, doesnt mean you have to bury it
- p9s50W5k4GUD2c6, on 10/12/2007, -6/+28What or WHO is a "trusted tester", Kevin? ;)
- ridgelawrence, on 10/12/2007, -3/+21Woah, google surprises me again.
- aelx, on 10/12/2007, -23/+5Agreed. Awesome idea. Hope it launches soon, and Kevin gives us another reason to elevate him to godhood.
- Pluckie, on 10/12/2007, -1/+18This will also surely surprise companies like T-Mobile who provide disgustingly expensive hotspot access. I bet they won't be too pleased with this move by Google.
- sych0, on 10/12/2007, -0/+10and so it begins...
- Pluckie, on 10/12/2007, -1/+25This will be up there in Google's best projects along with Google Maps and Google Earth. I bet this will be received a little bit better than Google Talk...
- mrASSMAN, on 10/12/2007, -3/+40Google's best project = Gmail.
- rusty0101, on 10/12/2007, -9/+11Nope, not gmail. That may be the most widely recognizable bit outside of their search engine, but their best product so far is Adsense. It gives them a revenue stream no matter what product (at the netork layer anyway) you look at. Granted it doesn't help them much with Google Earth yet, or the other software to be run on your desktop, but for just about everything associated with google on the net, Adsense works for them.
- shiftt, on 10/12/2007, -3/+11what's wrong with Gtalk? I use it everyday and I love it. It works great and even checks my email for me.
- tagliare, on 10/12/2007, -4/+13Google's best project: Google (web search)
- optimuscrime, on 10/12/2007, -4/+2I video chat using iChat with gtalk, file transfers, video, audio... It all seems to wok for me and my friends. I've never before had all these features work for AIM, MSN, or other Jabbers.
- SmeRndmGy, on 10/12/2007, -1/+9"what's wrong with Gtalk?"
Technically speaking, nothing is wrong with it. The problem is that almost nobody uses the google talk network. A large number of people don't even know it exists. Most people still use AIM, so if you want to IM your friends, you also have to use AIM. The technology that becomes the standard is not always the best technology. FLAC is better than mp3, but everyone uses mp3. There will always be a few nerds who use the better technology and try to convert everyone else, but it never usually goes anywhere.
- tktino, on 10/12/2007, -0/+8 Access Point: 200 Montebello .. KINDA ODD... isnt it?
- tktino, on 10/12/2007, -1/+5thats in utah.. [ Access Point: 200 Montebello ]
- skyanathema, on 10/12/2007, -1/+11one step closer to world domination
- ericnmu, on 10/12/2007, -3/+50free wifi can dominate me any time.
- saleens281, on 10/12/2007, -18/+5People used to say that about sex too, until they found out about aids. Once I hear the catch then I'll decide if it can dominate me. I have a feeling they'll sniff and record all your traffic in an effort to "archive all the worlds data". It's not that I'm doing anything illegal, I just prefer my privacy.
- OBKenobi, on 10/12/2007, -6/+3[quote]Once I hear the catch then I'll decide if it can dominate me.[/quote]
Catch? Why, Google monitors all your traffic, what else? Isn't that big of a deal for most people I guess. - chesterjosiah, on 10/12/2007, -0/+7I wonder how long it will take for this to spread. According to valleywag, there were legal issues with providing this across the country. Read more about that here:
http://www.valleywag.com/tech/google/googles-secret-plans-trogdor-calendar-and-wifi-153854.php
- fugazi, on 10/12/2007, -8/+19Please no one say that overlord crap and put google in it. Its the most annyoing thing ever.
- rritterson, on 10/12/2007, -5/+53i, for one, welcome our new google free wifi overlords.
/sorry, was obligatory - cogen, on 10/12/2007, -5/+30I, for one, welcome our google-overlord-joke-hating overlords.
- celticeric, on 10/12/2007, -4/+39In Soviet Mountain View, google-wifi uses you....
...for beta testing. - dmurray14, on 10/12/2007, -22/+7I agree, it's lame slashdot *****.
- DruSam, on 10/12/2007, -15/+8I, for one, welcome this lame slashdot ***** concerning our new google free wifi overlords.
- fugazi, on 10/12/2007, -19/+3And this is why im not going to view digg anymore...
- RSCruiser, on 10/12/2007, -2/+7What did you expect? That everyone would magically care that you hate the saying?
Posting that out of nowhere invited it more than anything.
- rritterson, on 10/12/2007, -5/+53i, for one, welcome our new google free wifi overlords.
- cambrown99, on 10/12/2007, -0/+43I really want Google to succeed with this so they can bring free wifi everywhere.
- Superkid, on 10/12/2007, -20/+2google can suck a hairy *****, them and their duel motives. :D
Permission to mod down granted. - thafooz, on 10/12/2007, -0/+3Indeed. I'm rather sick of telco monopolies. Right now my choice is Time Warner or... nothing.
- Superkid, on 10/12/2007, -20/+2google can suck a hairy *****, them and their duel motives. :D
- kurotenshi, on 10/12/2007, -1/+7GigaOm had the rumor last week, some people in Mountain View saw the ssid when their computers searched for a signal..
http://gigaom.com/2006/07/13/google-mountain-view/ - Dawgy, on 10/12/2007, -4/+2This would be so cool if they plan to bring it to other areas.
- manatee, on 10/12/2007, -2/+6that rocks! I wonder how long it will take them to go nationwide? Anyone care to place a bet?
- NJShadow, on 10/12/2007, -3/+4Boy, if this trend spreads, Google will yet again, be one of the greatest innovators in tech. "Dugg"
- HP844182, on 10/12/2007, -3/+0Too bad I don't live in a major metropolitan area...will Google be able to get wifi to me?
- mrASSMAN, on 10/12/2007, -1/+16You'll need Google Satellite.. (It's free but they beam ads into your night sky.)
- Pluckie, on 10/12/2007, -1/+8Does anyone have any idea of how they're setting these hotspots up?
I wouldn't think you could just drop the wireless routers (if that's what they use) wherever they want... Are they putting them in homes/stores/cell phone towers???- kurotenshi, on 10/12/2007, -3/+5http://www.engadget.com/2005/08/15/googlenet-massive-google-wifi-in-the-works/
This link is an old engadget article, but a good "assumption" of what Google could do. Keep in mind that if the Telcos win out on Net Neutrality, Google might have a backup plan rushed in to counter the Telco's cartelish behavior. Some people say it could be operational by year end. Its all guesstimation at this point though. - kurotenshi, on 10/12/2007, -3/+4This digg could help answer the question of "how"...
http://www.digg.com/tech_news/Google_s_Continuing_Dark_Fiber_Mystery - Zakir, on 10/12/2007, -2/+1I'd let them setup a wi-fi hotspot for free on the top of my home tower if I got free internet from google.
- geekee, on 10/12/2007, -5/+1"This link is an old engadget article, but a good "assumption" of what Google could do. Keep in mind that if the Telcos win out on Net Neutrality, Google might have a backup plan rushed in to counter the Telco's cartelish behavior."
Quit spreading FUD. - DamnitDan, on 10/12/2007, -0/+10From the FAQ
"If you are interested in helping us improve this service by hosting a Google WiFi node on your property, please email mvwifi-suppport@google.com"
and
"Please contact Google if you are a homeowner and you believe that your house is in a 'dead zone.' If you are willing to install a node on your home, then Google may be able to help. Please email your physical address to us at mvwifi-support@google.com." - kurotenshi, on 10/12/2007, -0/+2@geekee
"Quit spreading FUD."
Really?
http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20060704/wr_nm/google_netneutrality_dc
- kurotenshi, on 10/12/2007, -3/+5http://www.engadget.com/2005/08/15/googlenet-massive-google-wifi-in-the-works/
- tenorshooz, on 10/12/2007, -5/+2now, who gets blamed for the illegal downloading if google's providing the wireless?
- saleens281, on 10/12/2007, -2/+5Carrier neutral means they don't police the traffic. You would get blamed just like you do now.
- joerod, on 10/12/2007, -7/+2I'm sure there will be restrictions
- orvl, on 10/12/2007, -1/+8Anyone have any clue as to what kind of pipe Google is planning on putting behind their wireless network? That'd be sweet if it was full 100mb (assuming it's 802.11g) or more if they went with 802.11n access points as well...
- rusty0101, on 10/12/2007, -2/+6Ultimately that's going to depend upon what they decide to build out. A HotSpot(HS) may very well have wireless links to other HSs to do distributed local routing to get to an AP with several links into it. That AP may do the local dhcp configuration for the area HSs, and be bacbone connected via some high capacity fiber ring. Ethernet (of any speed) isn't going to cut it because of the distances involved.
If I were designing something like this, I would build Gb-A bridges as all of the hotspots. These provide a local 802.11gb connection to customers, and use one or more 802.11a connections to route traffic towards an AP. The AP would consist of a number of 802.11a to ethernet bridges, switched to a gig linked router that handles the connection to the fiber ring. Run the fiber as ATM, or ethernet over SONET, and connect it to two bridges to your own ISP connections.
If I had licence authority, I would probably look into backplaining the interconnects via a G3 cellular system, and my own infrastructure costs might go down. Not sure how the one time hardware costs would compare to the access costs for G3, but if I were also proving a G3 cellular network, it might be a wash, or in Google's favor. - kurotenshi, on 10/12/2007, -4/+03G seems to the frontrunner...
- rusty0101, on 10/12/2007, -2/+6Ultimately that's going to depend upon what they decide to build out. A HotSpot(HS) may very well have wireless links to other HSs to do distributed local routing to get to an AP with several links into it. That AP may do the local dhcp configuration for the area HSs, and be bacbone connected via some high capacity fiber ring. Ethernet (of any speed) isn't going to cut it because of the distances involved.
- babelfishi, on 10/12/2007, -5/+1Hmm. Seems Google wants to keep it a secrect. www.wifi.google.com links back to Google.
Kevin, how did you find this out?- jzp-digg, on 10/12/2007, -0/+2dunno about kevin, but 'site:wifi.google.com' turned up nice info for me :-)
- joerod, on 10/12/2007, -1/+8this is great, but how would this generate any kind of revenue for them, and when will this be in NYC
- jzp-digg, on 10/12/2007, -1/+1revenue will be ads
- ross., on 10/12/2007, -0/+10Someone run out and get some photos of these...how do you install so many access points?? are they like attached to the top of power poles or in people yards or whats the deal? How do you orchestrate something like this?? amazing.
- rs, on 10/12/2007, -0/+6You install them the same way you install mercury vapor lamps on the street. You'll need a bucket truck, a crew of installers, a purchase order made out to http://www.tropos.com/ for amounts that would shock you if you're used to buying consumer APs because (a) they're not consumer APs and they're actually well-built (something like $2500 a crack if memory serves, (b) you're buying 'em by the palletload, and (c) you're paying a premium for a mesh networking radio that actually works as advertised (at least to a first approximation, heh). Presumably Google has the good negotiators to be able to get the pricing down somewhat, but they're still gonna be expensive.
Don't forget the case of beer for the installers at the end of a workday. This should have been figured into your budget from the beginning; these guys are busting ass on your behalf, treat 'em right.
No, this isn't your buddy's Linksys with OpenWRT on it and the power turned up beyond FCC maximums and an external antenna hung off it.
- rs, on 10/12/2007, -0/+6You install them the same way you install mercury vapor lamps on the street. You'll need a bucket truck, a crew of installers, a purchase order made out to http://www.tropos.com/ for amounts that would shock you if you're used to buying consumer APs because (a) they're not consumer APs and they're actually well-built (something like $2500 a crack if memory serves, (b) you're buying 'em by the palletload, and (c) you're paying a premium for a mesh networking radio that actually works as advertised (at least to a first approximation, heh). Presumably Google has the good negotiators to be able to get the pricing down somewhat, but they're still gonna be expensive.
- zkirill, on 10/12/2007, -3/+7https://wifi.google.com/download.html
- rythmickason, on 10/12/2007, -4/+7Google = Awesome
Big ISP = pwned - ulfw, on 10/12/2007, -5/+2Yay for having an access point right across the street!
Now how do I become a 'trusted tester'? ;)- lozaning, on 10/12/2007, -6/+4give them your fisrt born and a small sample of seamen and dna
- orvl, on 10/12/2007, -1/+4I hate you
- haochi, on 10/12/2007, -8/+3I blogged about this days ago.
http://googlified.com/2006more-about-google-wifi/
Google's Official FAQs on here
http://wifi.google.com/support- metalrock76, on 10/12/2007, -0/+3actually the FAQ's are at
http://wifi.google.com/faq.html
- metalrock76, on 10/12/2007, -0/+3actually the FAQ's are at
- bchang, on 10/12/2007, -2/+3Man I would love to go to one of those schools that are covered with the Access Points.
- khag7, on 10/12/2007, -2/+1Does anyone know how many there are?
- rusty0101, on 10/12/2007, -2/+3Know? i imagine Google knows, whether they are going to tell anyone, beyond putting an icon on that map for every one deployed, I don't know. You could spend a few minutes, and count them there though.
- sjalloul, on 10/12/2007, -12/+2WELCOME TO THE FUTURE OF INTERNET: BY GOOGLE!!!
PS. YOUR FUTURE INTERNET PROVIDER. PLEASE COME TO BOSTON AND INSTALL ACCESS POINT WE COULD USE THEM AROUND TOWN, AS I AM TIERED OF PAYING FOR EVDO CRAP SERVICE. - corsairstw, on 10/12/2007, -3/+2I can't believe there are so many access points. Does anybody know how many there are for a given square mile?
- geekee, on 10/12/2007, -3/+7WiFi is designed for LANs. Using WiFi for large scale wireless networking is a waste of money. The map illustrates how little coverage you get for your money. There's a reason telecom companies aren't pursuing this approach. They're not stupid.
- rusty0101, on 10/12/2007, -0/+4By corelary, you are suggesting that the people at Google _are_ stupid.
Well, Ok. I guess you are entitled to your opinion. Thanks for sharing.
Not entirely sure what Verizon has to say on the matter as well. Largish telco with a wifi network deployed that they are selling service on. Granted Google does not appear to be planning on charging anyone for now, but I would suspect that there are people at Verizon who would disagree with your assesment that building out a network of this sort is a bad idea. Then again, there are people who would argue that since that is Verizon, perhaps it is a bad idea. - kevincw01, on 10/12/2007, -0/+4when you see how much a cellular monopole costs to deploy(plus monthly land lease and uplink b/w charges), you will change your story. Try 1.5 million + ~$1000/mo compared to $4000(w/ installation) + ~$150/mo.
- rusty0101, on 10/12/2007, -0/+4By corelary, you are suggesting that the people at Google _are_ stupid.
- A11ie, on 10/12/2007, -2/+4How could Google possibly cover an entire country, not to mention, a large one, with WiFi? How many hotspots will it take?
- kurotenshi, on 10/12/2007, -1/+3"Feeva is reportedly readying more free hotspots in California, Florida, New York, and Washington, and it's possible that Google may be involved."
http://www.feeva.com/press/business%20week/Business%20Week%20Sept%205%202005.htm
This is one way. - Flankk, on 10/12/2007, -2/+2I agree. If half the people need to host hotspots, then why not just use the pipe feeding the host? Someone needs to push the market for a long-range WiFi and implement it on existing cell towers. That someone is Google.
- kurotenshi, on 10/12/2007, -1/+3"Feeva is reportedly readying more free hotspots in California, Florida, New York, and Washington, and it's possible that Google may be involved."
- j3one, on 10/12/2007, -1/+11So what will a blue acess point be? Hmmmm..
http://wifi.google.com/images/blue-access.png- Rice, on 10/12/2007, -1/+2They sell Google Gulp at the blue ones.
http://www.google.com/googlegulp/
- Rice, on 10/12/2007, -1/+2They sell Google Gulp at the blue ones.
- Burmask, on 10/12/2007, -3/+5Nothing is free in this world my friends. Get ready to have ads shoveled down your throat.
- metalrock76, on 10/12/2007, -0/+5Coming to San Francisco..
"Google is working to provide a wireless network for the city of San Francisco. Currently, there is no set date regarding when this service will be available to residents of San Francisco, nor are there current plans to provide a wireless network to any other cities. Please refer back to this FAQ for future updates."
on http://wifi.google.com/faq.html - glafira, on 10/12/2007, -2/+2Should of tested this thing on L.A
- Avius, on 10/12/2007, -3/+2Awesome dude! Now I can have my porn on the fly!
- blackmath, on 10/12/2007, -3/+1I cant wait until that map is nationwide and theres green everywhere in the US.
- p1azma, on 10/12/2007, -2/+0I got my e-mail accepting me as a "Trusted Tester" earlier today, I'll go check it out right now.
- p1azma, on 10/12/2007, -0/+4edit: It's not up yet. In the e-mail they said they'd contact all the "trusted testers" once the network was up and they haven't.
- orvl, on 10/12/2007, -1/+3I hate you too.
- rdotson, on 10/12/2007, -2/+1I'm astounded the access points have to so densely populated! Wouldn't it make more sense for the FCC to increase the allowable power output for the 802.11g RF band, or to use some other frequency range that *does* allow greater output power than what the 802.11g devices limited to by the government? Even 5 Watt CB Radios get better range than that map would indicate 802.11g does.
- netgoddess, on 10/12/2007, -0/+3802.11's range limitations are not a result of FCC power limitations, they are a result of multipath interference (especially in urban areas, which have a lot of RF reflective surfaces). Turning up the power won't help--that's why 802.11 was originally designed to have lots of low power APs instead of a few high power ones.
- netgoddess, on 10/12/2007, -0/+3802.11's range limitations are not a result of FCC power limitations, they are a result of multipath interference (especially in urban areas, which have a lot of RF reflective surfaces). Turning up the power won't help--that's why 802.11 was originally designed to have lots of low power APs instead of a few high power ones.
- damn_bug, on 10/12/2007, -0/+2Looks like Google is trying the same thing as CellNet did for the Meter Reading industry, but with WiFi. Cellnet ran a proprietary network of RF antennas/repeaters through out metropolitan areas in order to read utility meters. They blew up in '99/'00. Ricochet had similar technology (pole top repeaters) and higher bandwidth but never got enough customer penetration to make any money. Paul Allen's Vulcan Ventures was a principle backer, but it too never made money. Now Google is trying it, (with location specific ad based revenue maybe??). Let's hope this is successful as I live about 6 blocks from the edge of the footprint!
- BQ27, on 10/12/2007, -1/+2Coolness, My son's Grandparents are in the coverage zone by Cuesta park :) Thanks Google!
- relaxmax, on 10/12/2007, -1/+1"My son's Grandparents are in the coverage zone by Cuesta park"
My son's grandparents?!? Is it just me or does this really not sound right?! - bobothn, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1maby it is like mothere and father in law for her or maby its her babies daddies parents.
- relaxmax, on 10/12/2007, -1/+1"My son's Grandparents are in the coverage zone by Cuesta park"
- evilxhwnd, on 10/12/2007, -1/+3this can't be cheap for them...
- tim507, on 10/12/2007, -1/+2im sure they can handle it ;)
- Sheaf, on 10/12/2007, -0/+4I'm fairly excited since I work in Mountain View. We go out to lunch everyday and it'll be pretty nice to take a laptop along and have access in the car and at restaurants.
The boxes themselves are quite visible all over the city atop light poles and such. Good job Google.- livestradamus, on 10/12/2007, -2/+1I see longer lunch breaks in your future
- everwillow, on 10/12/2007, -0/+5Funny, unless those access points have pretty amazing range, they seem to have forgotten to put any access points around Microsoft's Silicon Valley campus (in the rectangle just south of the official street address).
http://www.microsoft.com/about/companyinformation/usaoffices/northernca/siliconvalley.mspx
http://maps.google.com/maps?q=1065+la+avenida+st,+mountain+view,+ca - KaiserAce, on 10/12/2007, -3/+1Google's next move: Total World Domination
- JM13, on 10/12/2007, -3/+1There is a lone access point in Utah, movie it up here to Salt Lake City or Ogden where people would actually care! Please!
- BugE, on 10/12/2007, -3/+0HolyCr4p that's a whole lotta access points!
How does one put up *so* many access points without *somebody* noticing??? Surely some wardrivers (heck, you could just sit in your lounge!) would have picked up the new SSID(s)?
Heh. Go Google! - xalax, on 10/12/2007, -1/+1How is there a coverage hole when an access point is right in the middle of it?!?
- livestradamus, on 10/12/2007, -2/+1Free wifi (also traditional net access) is the future. It simply has to be. The internet is as embedded into our society as television, and that is free. Of course for premium you get more choices.
Off topic: Somebody out there needs to improve battery life for laptops. 2-5 hrs and free net access just isn't going to cut it. - chudmoney, on 10/12/2007, -2/+1Bring that sweet wi-fi to San Jose. I can already see the smile on my face when my cell connect to the first human I can get over at Comcast. I sure could use that $59.95 I'm paying them every month.
Besides, they've been screwing me for years with inflated cable and modem bills.
Bye bye. - paragonconcept, on 10/12/2007, -1/+2watch - google will light up SF when i move back to SoCal :P
- Darkdashing, on 10/12/2007, -2/+1I happen to live right next to the wifi access point near the 85, where can I get this download. Sweet since i Just moved here :)
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