| Last week the city of San Francisco
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| | possibilities.
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| accepted a joint bid from Google and
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| | Thanks to signal boosters every few
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| Earthlink to bring universal wireless
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| | blocks and a mandatory Google sign-in (no
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| access, or "Wi-Fi" to that city by the
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| | shocker there) they've got your location
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| bay. Residents will be able to log in
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| | covered. Some are crying foul and citing
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| wirelessly to the Internet from home,
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| | Big Brother tactics. I disagree. Free
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| work, cable car, or wherever. San
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| | Internet access is not a guaranteed right
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| Francisco is among the first cities of a
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| | and if electing to take advantage of this
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| number going "muniwireless"- that is,
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| | offering means logging into a service
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| citywide free Wi-Fi; Philadelphia has
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| | under reasonable conditions, well, so be
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| already cut a similar deal with
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| | it. At best, detractors come off as
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| Earthlink, while Austin, Boston, and
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| | misguided; at worst, ungrateful.
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| Chicago have also announced plans to do
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| | Some critics of this free buffet are even
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| the same. I believe this trend will
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| | turning up their noses at the fare.
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| continue and foresee the spread of Wi-Fi
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| | While Wi-Fi is that much better than dial
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| connection to most cities in upcoming
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| | up (Google says the free connection will
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| years.
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| | be about 300 kilobits per second), it's
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| This endeavor, a pet project of San
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| | not quite broadband. And this too,
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| Francisco's mayor Gavin Newsom, is good
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| | apparently, has ruffled a few feathers.
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| for his career and, more importantly,
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| | Whether it's a free lunch or just a
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| good for San Francisco. The civic
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| | snack, just enjoy it already.
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| adoption of universal Wi-Fi is rather
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| | For those of us who can live with free
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| progressive as it tackles a hi-tech
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| | Wi-Fi here's an example of how local
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| social issue by providing Internet access
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| | advertisers will be able to tailor ads to
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| for all. I truly believe this to be a
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| | meet their opportunities: It's a
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| kind act and, additionally, believe San
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| | beautiful Saturday in the park, you know,
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| Francisco's stature in the tech community
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| | the kind that makes everyone feel like a
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| will be greatly enhanced. Let's not hold
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| | kid again. At some point the proprietor
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| our breath waiting for free laptops,
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| | of a nearby ice cream parlor, call it
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| however.
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| | "Biggie's", realizes his ice cream sales
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| It's fun to work in online advertising
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| | aren't justifying the foot traffic he
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| because brainstorming is a natural part
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| | sees outside.
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| of the job. When industry announcements
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| | An idea comes to our good-humored
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| are made water cooler chit-chat
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| | purveyor and he takes action by accessing
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| inevitably leads to idea formation. In
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| | Google's localized search. It takes only
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| this particular case we know that San
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| | a few minutes to create and run an ad
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| Franciscans are all for it, but what will
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| | over the local platform that reads:
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| this mean for Google and Earthlink, who
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| | "Today only: 2 for 1 Ice Creams at
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| are providing the Wi-Fi free of charge?
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| | Biggie's Ice Cream Parlor. 2-5 PM, All
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| The consensus: plenty. Their service,
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| | Welcome".
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| while donated, also serves as terrific PR
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| | The only thing that will keep the crowds
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| and quite possibly an opportunity for
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| | from his business is a rain storm. Not
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| future business. As a provider of
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| | only would park goers with online access
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| advertising, Google is on to something
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| | via laptop or handheld device see these
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| good.
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| | personally relevant ads, but they'd be
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| Not only does this announcement add the
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| | sure to spread the word. As a buzz is
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| word "muniwireless" to my vocabulary, but
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| | built in the park Biggie's Ice Cream will
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| it may show us how personalized search
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| | have a big day. Targeted and effective
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| can be. A co-worker at stunned me by
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| | local advertising like this should be a
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| pointing out that this Wi-Fi could
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| | hallmark of muniwireless cities in years
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| conceivably deliver search ads that would
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| | to come. Good for San Francisco. I hope
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| be relevant to the very city block you're
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| | it comes to New York soon.
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| logged in from. Contemplate the
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