The Fon Club

"Foning" is something that many people may not be familiar with but the founders of the Wi-Fi network FON are looking to turn it into the next big term such as "Googled" and "Skyped." I found this article in the October 15th issue of Business Week and in it FON promises to succeed where many other Wi-Fi networks have failed. The current Wi-Fi networks depend on hot spots that are strung up in light poles and coffee shops but with FON it allows users to piggyback off of other "FONers" home broadband connections for free. FON users buy the company router or install their software onto their existing cable modems creating hot spots for other FON users. Currently there are about 200,000 traditional wireless hot spots around the world and FON has already deployed 280,000 FON routers. It is an interesting article to look at because of the opportunity its giving for the expansion of Wi-Fi networks where big companies such as IBM and Intel have failed. Both companies pulled the plug on their projects for Wi-Fi networks. Currently FON is relying on ads on the sign in page and fees charged to non-FONeros using the network to make money but has already partnered up with the British phone carrier BT to use the technology and Dell Inc. has begun selling FON routers on its website.

"JOIN THE FON CLUB, BE A HOT SPOT" - Business Week