Comments on: Meraki teams with San Francisco for free Wi-Fi

Free Wi-Fi project in the city hits a major milestone, as the company announces plans to target low-income housing projects.

[anon8mizer]

If the hardware is free to install, and they pick up the tab on internet connection, how do they make money? I don't want to become too dependent on a service when its long term prospect is not clear to me.

[Maggie Reardon]

They aren't making money on the network. It's a test bed network and they use their R&D money to fund it. By having this live network, they can test new routers and business models, which they can use to expand their equipment business.

[JonFraudCarry]

Wow, free wireless! That is poverty in America.

[kieranmullen]

Low income need better paying jobs, how does free wireless help? Internet is usually available at faster speeds at the libraries for free. No computer required.

KieranMullen
http://360oregon.com

[BillyWO]

Paying for Earthlink or free Meraki in the Tenderloin?Meraki win hands down, it's a no brainer....well done for supporting an affordable housing area with free internet access.

Billy
www.merakeye.com

[ihfwt]

Win-Win situation for users as well as Meraki who can test their equipment in the real world, instead of a lab environment. It's refreshing to see a company helping out the less fortunate.

DougW

[cyberedge]

To address a couple of comments...

Meraki makes money by selling base units and transceivers in other markets. The SF rollout is a test bed for their technology, and a great PR opportunity. And BTW, this is a good company with a great idea, IMHO.

Low income people do need jobs, and having internet access makes it much easier for them to find those jobs. My organization, ReliaTech (www.ReliaTech.org), works with St Anthony, the City of SF, and other nonprofit agencies to get good, low cost computers and networking to low income homes. This helps kids do their schoolwork, adults get jobs, and seniors stay in touch with their families. Kieranmullen is misinformed in believing that low-income people can do all this at a library. Libraries are suffering from reduced budgets, shortened hours, and closed branches. Having a computer in the home is vastly superior to expecting to find one available and working in an open library when an (often employed in low-paid job) low-income person needs to use a computer.

This announcement is good news for all San Franciscans, because more information leads to a better-informed citizenry, which (I hope) leads to a better city and region.