However, I just got an e-mail today from the people who developed FON ( http://www.fon.com ) offering me a free FON wireless router.
In a nutshell, the FON router is a router that allows FON community members free access to WiFi points when they're travelling. As a FON owner, I provide free WiFi to community members who happen to be in my neighbourhood. In return, I get free WiFi access from other community members when I'm in their neighbourhood (if I was the travelling type).
According to the e-mail, since Mandriva is part of the FON development team, they gave 100 people in the Mandriva community offeres for free FON routeres. Since free offers for hardware are few and far between for me, I thought what the heck.
I quickly looked at the FON users map and saw that there are a couple FON routers in Saskatoon already. Looks like there is at least one FON router in most major Canadian cities/towns, which is nice to see.
I like the concept of FON, as well. Certainly is better than "stealing" WiFi access from those who don't know any better. (you know who you are
)The router should be here in a couple of weeks.
Might be nice to interview someone from FON on the show sometime. Here's a contact in the US:
Joanna Rees, CEO of FON USA and president of the US Advisory Board. Joanna began her career at DMB&B and is the founder of VSP Capital. She currently serves on the Board of Directors of Posit Science, Sabrix, AccountNow, Danger, QuinStreet, The Threshold Group and the Board of Directors of the NVCA. In 2000, she was named Global Leader for Tomorrow by the World Economic Forum, and Entrepreneur of the Year Rising Star by the National Association of Women Business Owners. Joanna is frequently featured in the press (Forbes, Wall Street Journal, New York Times, CNN, Business Week), and serves as a spokesperson for the NVCA. She holds an MBA from Columbia University and a BS from Duke University.
