Comments on: Meraki Networks Raises $20 Million, Expands Free WiFi in San Francisco, Where Google Failed

By: jay mosby

jay mosby — Tue, 21 Oct 2008 13:17:18 +0000

No, Schoenfeld this is incorrect:

“When the project was first announced, Google got most of the credit for it. Now they deserve their share of the blame. The project was always associated with Google more than it was with Earthlink. It was their baby.”

It was politicians on the S.F. Board of Supervisors who kept stalling Google and preventing the Mayor’s agreement with Google from getting approval. Our free WiFi is being provided now to over 120,000 S.F. residents by Meraki (a start up funded by Sequoia Capitol one of the major owners of Google, and with 5 million dollars from Google itself. You falsely malign Google.

If you had fact checked your story, or actually live in San Francisco you would know the facts. i

By: Free the Airwaves, Free Puna and Free the Whales | Brent.fm • a technology mixdown

Tue, 30 Sep 2008 21:29:04 +0000

[...] Meraki Networks Raises $20 Million, Expands Free WiFi in San Francisco, Where Google Failed [...]

By: Joe Duck

Joe Duck — Wed, 09 Jan 2008 22:29:30 +0000

Meraki gave a great demo here at CES this morning showing how they are bringing solar powered mesh networking to developing world (as well as SF!). Very impressive real time mapping of a Chilean fishing villages mesh network.

By: Meraki quiere cubrir todo San Francisco con un wi-fi mesh » BlogWimax

Meraki quiere cubrir todo San Francisco con un wi-fi mesh » BlogWimax — Sun, 06 Jan 2008 15:51:22 +0000

[...] un competidor de Fon nacido en el MIT de Boston, quiere cubrir todo San Francisco con una red wi-fi mallada (mesh). El servicio será gratuito y se financiará con anuncios, con lo que será muy similar al [...]

By: Erick Schonfeld

Erick Schonfeld — Fri, 04 Jan 2008 15:37:01 +0000

@12, it was as much Google’s project as it was Earthlink’s. Maybe they picked the wrong partner. Maybe they picked the wrong city. Maybe they picked the wrong technology. For whatever reason, the project failed.

When the project was first announced, Google got most of the credit for it. Now they deserve their share of the blame. The project was always associated with Google more than it was with Earthlink. It was their baby.

And yes, the point of a headline is to grab readers’ attention, but this one is not inaccurate. I can’t put the whole story in the headline. It’s long enough as it is. You have to read the story to get all the details.

By: Ed

Ed — Fri, 04 Jan 2008 10:14:41 +0000

I used to pay for WiFI access when I lived in Taipei. I paid a student price of roughly ten bucks per month. The bad part was that it worked so so when the subway was between stations, and I mainly used the service when I was riding the subway. But it was definitely nice for sitting in a park or in some café and they’re expanding the network everyday. I’ll try to get myself one of those EEE PC’s when I go back this summer and see if things have improved.

By: Peter Kasting

Peter Kasting — Fri, 04 Jan 2008 09:26:06 +0000

I don’t understand the whole “Google failed” angle here except as an attention-getting headline. Google and Earthlink were waiting on the city of SF to actually give approval and sign contracts. They never did before Earthlink decided to pull out entirely. I could this portrayed as “SF failed” or “Earthlink failed” but not, of all things, “Google failed”. Then again, those other headlines don’t get as much attention.

By: deuxciel

deuxciel — Fri, 04 Jan 2008 08:37:20 +0000

Oui, get by with a little help from our friends…

By: HonestMall.com

HonestMall.com — Fri, 04 Jan 2008 08:11:54 +0000

very cool. looking forward to being in san francisco in the future and testing this out.

quick question though, will people be able to use wireless voip phones anywhere in the city now?

By: Jack Black

Jack Black — Fri, 04 Jan 2008 06:15:47 +0000

i think Google never intended to finish the free wifi project they promised, the whole project is a hoax, as always, Google is good at “vapor-ware” to get free PR.

By: Burgo

Burgo — Fri, 04 Jan 2008 06:10:00 +0000

@ Viralking, AMEN! That’s exactly why I’m hoping it takes off…

By: Wirelesson

Wirelesson — Fri, 04 Jan 2008 05:46:19 +0000

Woo-hoo! Sequoia Capital, DAG Ventures, and Northgate Capital just financed Meraki to cover SF in technology that will be obsolete in two years. Good news! /sarcasm

By: The ViralKing

The ViralKing — Fri, 04 Jan 2008 05:36:39 +0000

Yeah, here in Australia there doesnt seem to be anything like this. Will be interesting if it Succeeds in the States, how long it takes a company to mimic them here in Aus

By: Dheeraj Sultanian

Dheeraj Sultanian — Fri, 04 Jan 2008 05:30:01 +0000

Way to go guys! I can’t wait for blanket wi-fi everywhere!

By: Ryan Merket

Ryan Merket — Fri, 04 Jan 2008 05:28:57 +0000

@3 I agree…

By: Steel

Steel — Fri, 04 Jan 2008 05:20:42 +0000

I think Google failed because they have become the typical large corporation. They are bogged down with layers and layers if mid level managers who may be tech savy but don’t really know squat about building business outside their comfortable box. I can see this company making it work. Lean can be mean.

By: Burgo

Burgo — Fri, 04 Jan 2008 05:16:30 +0000

How much am I hoping this is going to succeed?
(Hint… A lot!)

By: Silicon Valley

Silicon Valley — Fri, 04 Jan 2008 05:02:56 +0000

You just made our day !