Google patents free Wi-Fi

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Google has developed three technologies for offering wireless internet across the US free of charge.

The company has filed for three patents relating to offering a wireless internet service stateside. The patents mention offering advertising through a wireless internet connection.

Google is teaming up with partners to build and implement the infrastructure enabling them to quickly deploy their service on top of existing equipment.

The patent applications, filed by Google employees Wesley Chan, Shioupyn Shen and former Google product management director Georges Harik, aim at lowering the cost of wireless access via advertisements within service.

It's not clear when Google is likely to start any kind of wireless offering but it has long been rumoured for many months now.

View: Patent 1 - Method and system for dynamically modifying the appearance of browser screens on a client device

View: Patent 2 - Method and system to provide advertisements based on wireless access points

View: Patent 3 - Method and system to provide wireless access at a reduced rate

View: Google

#1 markjensen on 29 Mar 2006 - 15:12

My quick non-lawyer-ific review of the three patents linked:
#1 (targeted presentation of screens for branding purposes) Likely to be a valid patent.
#2 (targeted advertisements) I don't think this is new or unique enough, just wrapped up in their other patent to make it look more credible.
#3 (cost-sponsored public wireless access) I don't think so to this one either. Nothing new here.

Any Patent Attorneys around to shed more insight?

#2 lodgepole on 29 Mar 2006 - 15:15

#3: It's these types of patent attempts (and subsequent awards) that give patenting such a bad reputation.

Makes me want to puke.

(2 replies) #3 SimplyPotatoes on 29 Mar 2006 - 15:26

google did nothing wrong following broken patent laws. they are playing the game well, i say play to win and get rid of the bull**** limited no competition landlines.

#3.1 sphbecker on 29 Mar 2006 - 16:49

I agree; the people at the patent office should be more careful about what they consider to be a new idea/intellectual property.

#3.2 RangerLG on 29 Mar 2006 - 17:15

They haven't gotten the patents yet, only applied. Acceptance can take a while.

(2 replies) #4 ahhell on 29 Mar 2006 - 15:29

Great!!

Would you like some Internet with your ads?

#4.1 Netrack on 29 Mar 2006 - 16:23

if i can get on the internet from anywhere in the US for free...then yes, heck of a lot better than paying verizion $40 a month

#4.2 oddity on 29 Mar 2006 - 16:42

A-****ing-Gree.

#5 sphbecker on 29 Mar 2006 - 16:46

"Method and system to provide wireless access at a reduced rate"

So what, Google now owns the idea of lowering prices on wireless access?

I would say the others are pretty weak too; the idea of paying for something with ads is age old; the fact that the thing you are getting is wireless access is certainly not revolutionary.

(3 replies) #6 miniM3 on 29 Mar 2006 - 17:14

Google will own everything!!!!

#6.1 MrCobra on 29 Mar 2006 - 18:19

Google is CRAP!!!!

Those patents should never be granted.

#6.2 markjensen on 29 Mar 2006 - 22:36

Google is CRAP!!!!

A broad, vague and utterly negative commentary on a company based on their desire to apply for patent protection on some concepts?

Seems to me that you would also think Microsoft is crap.
and Apple is crap
and the FSF (who holds various "Open Source"-related patents) is crap

Perhaps if you explained your position with a bit more eloquence, then others would be able to discuss various points.

#6.3 lbmouse on 30 Mar 2006 - 14:50

C'mon MJ, Microsoft would never file frivolous technology patents.

"If people had understood how patents would be granted when most of today's ideas were invented and had taken out patents, the industry would be at a complete standstill today...A future start-up with no patents of its own will be forced to pay whatever price the giants choose to impose." ~ Bill Gates internal memo to employees, 1991

Who knew Billy-Boy was a fellow Commie, or at least he was 15 years ago. What happened Comrade?

#7 andrewhaji on 29 Mar 2006 - 18:27

I wonder if we'll ever get Wi-Foogle in Canada...

#8 Ksg on 29 Mar 2006 - 19:09

Just noticed something, wifi.google.com redirects to the search page where as random subdomains just 404

#9 DomZ on 29 Mar 2006 - 20:04

Nice spot Ksg

#10 aero9 on 29 Mar 2006 - 20:42

wtf

#11 lexor on 29 Mar 2006 - 20:42

I used to have free internet where you had to run this app with ads... ah y2k, fun times, so I don't really see how Google is innovating here, it used to be a large industry.

#12 Quick Reply on 29 Mar 2006 - 21:02

Prior art. There are plenty of Wireless Community Networks (ie: Seattle Wireless) that already do this.

My Wireless Community Network (Melbourne Wireless) display a login screen with a Melbourne Wireless Logo on it as soon as you try to access a HTTP site, once connected to the WAP.

(1 reply) #13 Peter McGrath on 29 Mar 2006 - 21:15

So does that mean everyone with a "home" wireless network that is providing "free" access throught their house will now have to pay google a royalty?

What a load of rubbish!

#13.1 betasp on 30 Mar 2006 - 02:20

Do you have to pay MS everytime you double-click on a Mac or *nix box? Just because the hold the patent does not mean they must enforce it. Patents are not like copyright.

Imagine it another way, imagine is google paid YOU everytime someone connected to you wifi and served up the service.

#14 rIaHc3 on 29 Mar 2006 - 21:38

Google..........come overseas

#15 mad_onion on 29 Mar 2006 - 21:47

this would be so cool, google could make a fortune out of this is it is possible to make a profit from it which i suspect it is.
you would have to be a fool to turn down wifi everywhere you go because of the completly unobtrusive adverts that google has. it would be so good if it comes to the UK but i dont mind the US getting to see whats it like first

(1 reply) #16 sagy on 29 Mar 2006 - 22:33

Can anyone say what the speed is going to be like?

Last edited by sagy on 29 Mar 2006 - 22:42

#16.1 Kushan on 30 Mar 2006 - 01:47

Last I heard, it was going to be limited somewhat so as to not completely destroy the competition in the ISP market, but it would still be considered "broadband" speeds. Somewhere around 150-300k.
Not exactly lightning fast, but if it's free then I sure as hell wouldn't say no.

#17 AngelicRaver on 30 Mar 2006 - 02:07

Google is how capitilism should be.

Go google.

Ill still have my SDSL, but being able to go out with my laptop and access it from work for free, would be really awesome.

What areas will have access?

#18 KC on 30 Mar 2006 - 07:24

If this day ever comes a lot of things will change.

#19 divertom15 on 30 Mar 2006 - 09:28

wait until someone writes a grease monkey script to bypass the ads you are forced to sit thru.

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