9th
City-wide 802.11 Mesh Networks
An 802.11 network is also referred to as wireless LAN. Many business and home networks offer wireless connection to a router which is also connected to the “wired” Internet. In this way people have wireless access around the home or office. All new laptops come with 802.11 capability. Some cities (Philly, Dayton, San Francisco, Toronto, Anaheim, London) are extending these wireless networks over entire cities by placing access points on top of light poles and buildings.
Wireless Philadelphia will cover 135 square miles. Earthlink is the company that won the contract to install and manage the Philadelphia wireless project. Their goal is to provide low-cost wireless access to 150,000 families. They are also sponsoring a PC purchase program combined with training to show people how to connect to the Internet.The project has already rolled out some pilot programs. In one downtown neighborhood, they set up 20 tables with umbrellas where people demonstrated various uses of the Internet. One popular application was to show parents how they could access their children’s grades and attendance records over the Internet. Over a thousand people from the local community showed up.
Even without an 802.11 network, people can download podcasts to their computer, and then to their mp3 player. The iPhone, planned to be out in 6/2007, will be 802.11 capable and also include an mp3 player. People will then be able to download podcasts directly to their iPhone. Most radio shows can also be downloaded via podcasts. The iPhone is an example of what is know in tech circles as “disruptive technology”, because it has the potential to revolutionize the way people access and provide information. Hopefully, cheaper iPhone “knock-offs” will become available.
Podcast describing the Philadelphia Municipal Wireless Project
