Meraki Sponsors WiFi Access At San Francisco City Hall Chambers

In what should NOT be considered "Free" WiFi, Meraki, the makers of a lightweight mesh networking platform, have sponsored the deployment of WiFi inside San Francisco's City Hall, reports MuniWireless.com

To me there is a huge difference between "free" and "sponsored" even if the general public perceives it to be "free." The rationales are quite simple as the sponsored model in this case is the same as a park's beautification being underwritten by a benefactor. If the benefactor says no more, the ongoing beautification of the park stops until a new one can be found.

In the case of San Francisco, the city won't be subsidizing the WiFi anytime soon, so Meraki stepped in and in a very self serving (in a good way) developed a plan to bring greater attention to the merits and benefits of WiFi.

Well done by all, and hat tip to Esme Vos for drawing attention to this.

Comments

[Gerritt Hoekman]

Hi Andy – Thanks for inviting me to comment here. I work for Edelman PR and one of our clients, Norton (from Symantec – a world leader in online security), has put together a list of five easy tips to help people keep safe while using wireless (Wi-Fi) connections while traveling. While offering convenience and flexibility, these networks are also easy entry points for crooks looking to steal money, account information and identities.

1. Pay attention to your surroundings - Remember, if you can read his magazine, the guy sitting next to you on the plane can also read your laptop screen! Just because you’re on vacation, doesn’t mean you’re not still in public
2. Beware of “Evil Twins” – Some Wi-Fi networks can appear to be legitimate, but are NOT. Criminals can create “dummy” networks or Web sites that contain the name of the airline, hotel or airport, but actually will direct your information to their own computer. If you always use the access keys provided by the airline, hotel, or airport, you’ll be protected
3. Always assume your Wi-Fi connections are being eavesdropped on - Never enter sensitive data (bank account information, social security numbers, etc.) when browsing the Web via a Wi-Fi network
4. Set any Bluetooth devices to “hidden”, not “discoverable” - If you do not use the Bluetooth function, turn it off altogether
5. Keep your security software current and active - Remember, mobile PCs are vulnerable to the same viruses, Trojans, and worms as your home computer. Norton Internet Security 2008, is an award-winning product that provides exceptional protection for wireless networks

Please let me know if you have any questions, and keep up the great work!

Best,
Gerritt Hoekman
Edelman PR for Norton from Symantec