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Microsoft to join municipal Wi-Fi fray
By Larry Hendrick | November 17, 2006
With private companies, like Microsoft, coming into the mix, Muni WiFi projects should gain more exposure to the non-techie audience. So far, the only ones pushing this initiative are the more technically advanced, but change is in the wind.
Of course, this Portland project is in its infancy and won’t come to fruition for another year and a half. It will start out small, like most do, then work to expand the area of coverage to 95% of the city. This is another one to watch.
Microsoft to join municipal Wi-Fi fray | CNET News.com
Under the strategic alliance, Microsoft will provide an MSN-branded local content page with restaurants, events, traffic, news, city government services and weather, a Windows Live Search box, and contextually relevant ads targeted to the topics on the Web pages users view and keywords searched on, said Chuck Haas, chief executive and founder of MetroFi.
“This is Microsoft’s first public foray into municipal Wi-Fi, and Microsoft’s commitment to the Portland network further reinforces the validity of the advertising-supported Wi-Fi model,” he said.
Microsoft was mum on its Wi-Fi plans for the future, but hinted there were more deals to come.
Topics: Business, Technology, WiFi |