Google and Skype invest in unified wi-fi concept

Fon, a three-month old Spanish wi-fi provider has raised $22 million in venture capital to help launch a plan to form a network of broadband users that would share wireless connections when away from home.

Essentially, as more and more laptop users join the Fon network, more and more hotspots are created.

Fon founder, Mr. Martin Varsavsky, envisions a “unified global broadband wireless signal”. Because the user must first join an ISP, Mr. Varsavsky claims he is ‘befriending ISP’s by sharing the revenue’.

But, Roger Entner, an analyst with market research firm Ovum, said the idea could be revolutionary - in terms of both its potential and its possible pitfalls. “It’s an awesome idea just like Napster was, with all the consequences that come with it,” he said. “It’s a great idea, but you are breaking the law. It is treating wi-fi as communal property when it is not.”

I believe that eventually wireless broadband will be like a utility–preferably provided as a free service to the community or at least available as a very inexpensive public amenity. Maybe this will end up being a step in that direction.