The Fonera name doesn’t really mean much here in the U S of A, but it’s a little more popular in Europe. (I know I occasionally ran into Fonera Wi-Fi networks in Barcelona last year, and I had never seen one in Manhattan or Queens in New York.) In any event, Fon has, indeed, released the Fonera 2n router here in the U.S.. The big thing is that it works with 802.11n. I guess that’s what the “n” is for.
FON
by Nicholas Deleon on September 24, 2009
by John Biggs on July 14, 2009
As you recall Fon makes wireless routers for sharing. You install the Fon node in your house, share it with others, and then are given access to other Fonera routers around the world. It’s sort of a viral Wi-Fi community.
Now, however, the Fonera is incredibly more interesting. The device can now access web services without the aid of a computer, allowing you to download torrents and “content” as well as upload to multiple services just by plugging in a USB key. The router also can be used as a webcam or print server and can connect to a 3G or HSDPA node and share the connection over Wi-Fi. It also supports 802.11n and acts as a wireless NAS with remote browsing capabilities. In short, the router just got much smarter.
by Matt Burns on August 22, 2008
PSP fanboys, take note. Starting today, your little Sony buddy can hop on any of the FON Wi-Fi spots. Details aren’t exactly clear as if full internet will be available or if it is just going to be Sony-exclusive material. As far as the service goes though, there are around 44,000 FON spots world-wide so chance are that unless you’re in the middle of the a corn field, there is probably a FON spot by you.
Any PSP users care to give us a little hands on the new service? Pics and thoughts in the comments.
by Nicholas Deleon on May 26, 2008
Ready for worldwide, wireless Internet access? Keep dreaming!
You remember FON, right? There’s a small piece in the International Herald Tribune that tries to explain why the hippie-sounding service hasn’t taken off yet. Whereas, to be successful, FON needs millions of users spread around the world, each sharing their Internet connection wirelessly, so far only 830,000 people have signed up; only 340,000 hot spots are currently in operation. If not enough people run a hot spot, FON dies, as does the idea of free, worldwide wireless Internet access.
Did anyone else get a free FON router a few months back? I did and it’s a piece of turd. Mine was constantly cutting in and out and the router started warping from the heat. I think it’s a dumb idea to share my Wi-Fi, but I’ll probably sing a different tune the next time I’m traveling and need a hotspot to mooch off of. Today FON have teamed up with British Telecom to cover all the UK with BT FON hotspots and now those 3 million broadband customers under BT’s belt have gained free Wi-Fi across the entire isle, which has essentially become the largest Wi-Fi community in the world. I just wish this deal had gone through while I was there. Oh well.
Read More
by Josh Goldman on June 22, 2007
This is simple really: FON lets you share your wireless Internet connection with FON community members (called Foneros) and in return you get to hop on any other member’s wireless connection free of charge, anywhere in the world. The La Fonera is the specially designed $39.95 Wi-Fi access point that lets you securely share your wireless connection. The $19.95 Lafontenna is a directional antenna that extends your FON Wi-Fi coverage area up to five times farther than the Fonera’s standard range.
by Josh Goldman on April 23, 2007
Rumor becomes reality. Straight outta Madrid, Spain comes word that Time Warner Cable has inked a deal with Wi-Fi community FON allowing TWC subscribers to become FON community members and create FON access points with their home or business broadband connection. If you’re not familiar with FON, the idea is that you share your Wi-Fi with other community members and in return you can use theirs when you’re away from home.
You have to plunk down $39.95 for a La Fonera router, but joining the Foneros (community members) lets you connect to any member’s Wi-Fi hotspot for free around the globe, wherever there’s a participating ISP. The La Fonera router uses two separate Wi-Fi channels: one for the owner, one for Foneros. Public and anonymous users cannot access the encrypted Fonero network.
Want to find out where you can connect if you become a Fonero? Check out Fon Maps, a Google-Maps mash-up that lets you pinpoint access points, as in the image above.
Time Warner customers get Wi-Fi hotspots [Yahoo! News]
- Actively Discussed Posts
- Sunday Giveaway: See the world with your very own Vue camera system
689 comments - Friday Giveaway: Nixon Newton Watch
329 comments - You can install Chrome OS on your Dell Mini 10v right now
52 comments - Psystar's folly: 12 million clones per year by 2011
45 comments - Real time, real discussion, real reporting: choose two
43 comments
- There are no posts to display.
