Robert Cringlely’s got a public wifi idea that’s pretty cool – ask broadband users to add a public hotspot to their broadband connection in exchange for free national roaming WiFi.
It’s interesting because it’s a grassroots design and it scales well, since you incent the network nodes with the increasing network effect of the system. The trick, like most network business plans, is just getting started.
Probably the biggest argument today against WiFi as a national, usable system is the problem of ubiquity: unlike major operators’ networks, WiFi coverage is still limited to airports, coffee shops, hotels, and some enlightened businesses. But this sort of coverage is hardly reliable.
Cringely’s WhyFi would be an interesting way to add incentive to those who could donate their broadband connection.