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Contents

Image File history File links Fon. ...

Company

FON Wireless Ltd. is a company of British law, registered and based in Madrid, Spain. Led by Martin Varsavsky, FON was first presented at the O'Reilly Emerging Technology Conference by Ejovi Nuwere, the founding CEO of FON USA. The conference was held from January 24-26, 2006 in the United States. Martin Varsavsky is the chief executive and founder of FON, the worlds largest wi-fi sharing network. ... The OReilly Emerging Technology Conference (not to be confused with the MIT Emerging Technologies Conference) is OReilly Medias premier conference about the new technologies that are on the OReilly Radar. ...


On February 6, 2006 FON received a 21.70 million dollar grant from Google, Index Ventures, Sequoia Capital, and Skype Technologies SA, who continue to support the company. At present, the Fon software remains in a Beta phase. Google, Inc. ... Sequoia Capital is a venture capital firm founded by Don Valentine in 1972. ... Skype (IPA pronunciation: , rhymes with type) is a proprietary peer-to-peer Internet telephony network founded by the entrepreneurs Niklas Zennström and Janus Friis, also founders of the file sharing application Kazaa. ... It has been suggested that Release to manufacturing be merged into this article or section. ...


Though the company is viewed as a WiFi community, and does subsidize the customized routers sold in its online store, it is a for profit company. Fon makes money by charging a usage fee to "Aliens" for day passes which can be used to connect to the internet through a Fon access point. "Bills" are also charged a reduced usage fee when they connect to the internet through another user's router.


Martin Varsavsky aims to "build a global standard for sharing WiFi" ([1]). Though critics believe the "Fon movement" will die with emerging technology, Varsavsky believes his company is not limited to just one technology and plans to expand the Fon service into emerging technologies like WiMAX.[1] According to Varsavsky, WiMax has the potential to greatly increase Fon's popularity by increasing signal range and coverage. It has been suggested that this article or section be merged with IEEE 802. ...


The FON network

FON's customized OpenWRT GNU/Linux based WLAN-router, La Fonera (FON2100).
FON's customized OpenWRT GNU/Linux based WLAN-router, La Fonera (FON2100).
Picture of a FON2100 router, its original packaging and accessories for the European market.
Picture of a FON2100 router, its original packaging and accessories for the European market.

Anyone can join the Fon community, but only broadband internet subscribers can take advantage of the Fon network by purchasing a La Fonera (roughly meaning in Spanish, "the Fon-ator"), a customized router from the Fon Shop [2], and sharing their connection through it. Image File history File links Size of this preview: 573 × 600 pixel Image in higher resolution (722 × 756 pixel, file size: 38 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) File links The following pages on the English Wikipedia link to this file (pages on other projects are not listed): FON ... Image File history File links Size of this preview: 573 × 600 pixel Image in higher resolution (722 × 756 pixel, file size: 38 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) File links The following pages on the English Wikipedia link to this file (pages on other projects are not listed): FON ... OpenWrt is a GNU/Linux based firmware for embedded devices based upon Broadcom chipsets, such as Wi-Fi routers made by Asus, Belkin, Dell, Linksys, US Robotics and Viewsonic, among others. ... Unix systems filiation. ... Image File history File linksMetadata Size of this preview: 800 × 600 pixel Image in higher resolution (2048 × 1536 pixel, file size: 657 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) File links The following pages on the English Wikipedia link to this file (pages on other projects are not listed): FON User talk... Image File history File linksMetadata Size of this preview: 800 × 600 pixel Image in higher resolution (2048 × 1536 pixel, file size: 657 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) File links The following pages on the English Wikipedia link to this file (pages on other projects are not listed): FON User talk... Broadband Internet access, often shortened to broadband Internet or just broadband is a high data-transmission rate Internet connection. ... This article is about a computer networking device. ...


There are three types of Foneros, Fon community members:

  • The first is an Alien. An Alien is a user who does not share his connection using a La Fonera social router. Aliens must pay to use the WiFi signals of other Foneros.

The other two types of community members share their broadband connections. A broadband internet subscriber who purchases a La Fonera router, has two options. He can either share his internet connection for free or for a profit. The former is known within the community as a Linus, the latter a Bill.

  • Linus (after Linus Torvalds) members are compensated for sharing their connection by having free WiFi access through any other Fonero’s router.
  • Bills (after Bill Gates) receive half of the fees, currently $3.00, charged to Aliens for a day pass to connect through their router.

Linus members tend to be personal users, while more businesses have Bill accounts. Linus Benedict Torvalds ( ; born December 28, 1969 in Helsinki, Finland) is a Finnish software engineer best known for initiating the development of the Linux kernel. ... For other persons named Bill Gates, see Bill Gates (disambiguation). ...


Skype, an emerging VoIP company, has partnered with Fon to provide an $160 package deal that includes a WiFi phone capable of connecting to the Fon network and a La Fonera Router[3]. Alone, La Fonera routers currently cost approximately $30.00. On special events or certain markets, Fon offers the router for free.


Criticisms

This article or section may contain original research or unattributed claims.
Please help Wikipedia by adding references. See the talk page for details.

The following are commonly cited criticisms of FON: Image File history File links Circle-question. ... Shortcut: WP:NOR Wikipedia is not the place for original research such as new theories. ...

  • In some countries WiFi-sharers could be held responsible for the actions of those who are allowed in their access points.
  • Many broadband providers disallow re-selling of their services, as Bill Foneros do. Others don't allow it even when there is no monetary gain, as Linus Foneros do. Fon has tried to negotiate explicit authorizations from ISPs.
  • Some countries require bandwidth providers to receive an authorization. If Fon is considered as such, it should be registered and comply with the requirements.
  • Supporters of altruistic Wifi communities dislike the commercial angle of the operation in spite of the "community" esthetics, and the presence of Bills and Aliens.
  • The Fonera router is based on Linux GPL software and Fon complies with it by offering the source code, but cryptographic signatures hinder the modification by the device owners.

Linux (IPA pronunciation: ) is a Unix-like computer operating system family that uses the Linux kernel. ... The GNU logo For other uses of GPL, see GPL (disambiguation). ... Tivoization is a term used to refer to the creation of a system that incorporates software under the terms of a copyleft software license, but uses hardware to prevent users from running modified versions of the software on that hardware. ...

ISPs that allow FON service (by country)

This list may require cleanup to meet Wikipedia's quality standards.
Please help improve this list. It may be poorly defined, unverified or indiscriminate. (talk, help, how to edit)
This article has been tagged since December 2006.
  • Australia
    • Bigpond (with disclaimer)
  • Belgium
  • France
    • Erenis
    • Neuf Cegetel
    • Club Internet
  • Germany
    • Arcor (Linus only)
    • AOL (Linus only)
    • freenet.de (and meome.de) (Linus only)
    • M-net, NEFkom and AugustaKom (Maxi DSL) (Linus only)
    • Portunity (Linus only)
    • S&P data (Linus only)
    • T-Online (Linus only)
    • Interoute Deutschland
    • manitu
  • Italy
    • Elitel
  • Netherlands
  • New Zealand
    • Orcon
    • Worldnet
    • Xtra
  • Spain
    • Jazztel
  • Sweden
    • Adamo
    • Bredband2.com
    • Comhem
    • Glocalnet.se
    • Gotlandsenergi.se
    • Labs2.com
  • Switzerland
    • Interway Communication GmbH
  • Taiwan
    • SeedNet
  • United Kingdom
    • Fondoo.net
    • Phone Co-Op
    • bulldog (Linus only)
    • be (Linus only)
  • United States of America
    • Speakeasy
    • AceDSL (NYC)
    • bway.net (NYC)
    • Sonic.net (SF Bay Area)

Image File history File links Information_icon. ... Shortcut: WP:A WP:A does not stand for Wikipedia:Administrators. ... Shortcut: WP:WIN Wikipedia is an online encyclopedia and, as a means to that end, also an online community. ...

ISPs that do NOT allow FON service (by country)

This list may require cleanup to meet Wikipedia's quality standards.
Please help improve this list. It may be poorly defined, unverified or indiscriminate. (talk, help, how to edit)
This article has been tagged since December 2006.
  • Belgium
    • LaTribu
  • Denmark
    • TDC
  • Germany
    • 1&1 Internet
    • Hansenet (Alice)
    • dus.net
    • Kamp Netzwerkdienste
    • Versatel
  • Sweden
    • Bahnhof Kundservice at Bahnhof state they do not approve of the use of Fon in contact via e-mail 2006-12-04
    • Bredbandsbolaget.se
    • TDC
    • Teliasonera [citation needed]
    • Utsikt[6] - Utsikt is really an access provider for the ISPs, but since Utsikt themselves do not allow FON routers to be installed, it doesn’t matter which ISP you choose if you are connected through Utsikt.
    • Vattenfall
    • Ymex AB (access provider Skanova)
  • Switzerland

Image File history File links Information_icon. ... Shortcut: WP:A WP:A does not stand for Wikipedia:Administrators. ... Shortcut: WP:WIN Wikipedia is an online encyclopedia and, as a means to that end, also an online community. ... XS4ALL (pronounced access for all) is the second-oldest ISP in the Netherlands, after NLnet (But xs4all was the first company offering internet for individuals). ... There are very few or no other articles that link to this one. ... BT may stand for: B.T. (tabloid), a Danish tabloid newspaper Brian Transeau, an American electronica musician BT Group plc, formerly British Telecommunications BT tank, a series of Soviet fast tanks (BT-1 through BT-8) AirBaltic, (airline code BT) Bacillus thuringiensis, Bt toxin or Cry proteins Banjo-Tooie, a... Archaeological village of Nuragici people, in Sardinia, Italy. ... Comcast Corporation, (NASDAQ: CMCSA) based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, is the largest cable company and the largest broadband (second overall) Internet service provider in the United States. ... AT&T (NYSE: T) is the largest provider of both local and long distance telephone services, wireless service under the brand Cingular Wireless, and DSL Internet access in the United States. ...

See also

  • DD-WRT

DD-WRT is a free firmware for several wireless routers, most notably the Linksys WRT54G (including the WRT54GL and WRT54GS), that run minimalist Linux-based operating systems. ...

External links

  • FON website
  • Hong Kong FON website
  • Taiwan FON Website
  • Movimento FON FON community in Orkut
  • Australian Fon Fansite
  • Dutch Fon Forum
  • German Fon Forum
  • BBC news report on FON
  • Hacking the La Fonera Router
  • Video conversation with Fon founder Martin Varsavsky
  • Hacking the La Fonera - A look behind the curtain of the router
  • Debricking the La Fonera - Hacked too much? Reanimate a Fonera via serial console.
  • KillBills : a Bandwidth sharing software, gratis for all visitors

References

  1. ^ Martin Varsavsky, WiMax and FON, 17 September 2006
  2. ^ January 9, 2007, blog.fon.com/dk: Tele2 siger indirekte ja til FON
  3. ^ http://epaper.hbl.fi/index.php?s=169&p=7291
  4. ^ http://epaper.hbl.fi/index.php?s=169&p=7291
  5. ^ https://open.sparknet.fi/index.php?page=elisaehdot
  6. ^ E-mail conversation with the customer support of Utsikt, 23-29 Nov, 2006.
  7. ^ Cablecom's General Terms and Conditions, paragraph 7

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