Google Offers Free WiFi for Mountain View, CA

Patik writes "AFP reports that Google is offering free wifi internet access to all 70,000 residents of its headquarter's hometown, Mountain View, CA. Google expects the entire city to be covered by next June. Basic access will be free while Google retains the right to charge for premium services. This comes after Google made a bid to provide free access for all of San Francisco (pop. 744,000) two months ago, although that city is still considering the bid."

Hmm.. next news item

[Bananatree3]

Microsoft Offers Free Wi-FI to Redmond, Wa

In light of a recent story about Google offering free Wi-Fi internet access to Mountain View, Ca, Microsoft has stated that it will start offering free Wi-Fi to its hometown of Redmond, Washington. This recent development....

Aaaah! That explains it.

[Chocolate Teapot]

I was wondering why this poll [slashdot.org] has not been replaced in nearly two weeks. The /. editors are waiting till the Google Wifi comes online so that they can add another option ...

[*] I live in Mountain View, you insensitive clod!

Just wait till the Bay Area wireless comes online and that poll choice will make the others pale into insignificance.

Note to Google

[scsa]

Don't forget, your European HQ is in Dublin, Ireland. Can we have free Wifi too please?

Re:What is this was Microsoft?

[dbolger]

Of course, you know this is just so they can gain a stranglehold on the wi-fi market in that area. Typical MS, always out to crush small business.

Re:Hmm.. next news item

[Dogtanian]

Microsoft Offers Free Wi-FI to Redmond, Wa

Pfft. That's nothing; some nice people called "Linksys" already offer free unregulated wireless broadband in *any* large conurbation. Don't believe me? Just turn on your laptop wherever you go and I guarantee you there'll be an open access point with the SID "Linksys".

Lovely people.

Re:San Francisco Wi-Fi

[ievans]

I live in San Francisco, and not a day goes by that I don't see a cackling criminal hellbent on destruction, twirling his mustache, about to cause untold carnage with a firearm, only to be thwarted by a civilian carrying a legal, licensed handgun. It's truly a sight to behold. The only thing keeping San Francisco from turning into Lagos is the vast handgun toting populace, not the police, not the legal system. And now we've gone ahead and ruined it.

It'll be just like the veritable river of blood that is...London, England.

Disclaimer: I voted against the handgun ban, but give me a break.

Google Secure Access?

[Traegorn]

Having a little bit of Deja Vu here, as I seem to remember hearing about something like this quite some time ago.

With a little digging, I found this: https://wifi.google.com/download.html [google.com]

Re:Why?

[edbarrett]

yeah, i'll probably be mod'd troll or whatever,
but why is google doing this?
(what are their secret motives?)

Worst. Haiku. Ever.

Re:Why?

[Decameron81]

"Fear the day they stop thinking it is good to look nice."

Yeah, who knows what google may do with their evil free WiFi.

Seriously though, I tend to reward those who deserve my trust. That way I ensure that my money, admiration, time, etc, is an investment to try and promote that kind of reasoning.