Techcrunch
Mark Hendrickson
January 18 2008
“Give to receive” is the mantra of a new initiative by Spanish startup Fon to bring “free” Wi-Fi to the residents of San Francisco’s Castro District.
The plan is the same one tried by Fon elsewhere: the company gives people Wi-Fi routers to install in their homes with the understanding that they will use them to share some of their internet connection with other Fon users (so-called “Foneros”). The routers emit two types of signals: one for private usage and the other for secure access by fellow Foneros. Share some of your own internet connection and your neighbors will share back, effectively expanding the geographic area of the internet access you pay for.