The first announcement had come in April: "In San Francisco sail free and wireless. " Google and Earthlink had in fact awarded the tender to build a wi-fi in the Californian city. By the year will be installed antennas and not before the beginning of 2008 - the estimated Los Angeles Times - almost 800 thousand people will be able to connect to the Internet. Without wires and without costs. "You can not keep talking about" digital divide "and do nothing to solve it," he said, satisfied, the city mayor, Gavin Newsom. But how will the service? Nothing could be easier. Wherever you are, just turn on the computer to enter the Google Network, which has already created a wi-fi in "his" Mountain View, will offer a free connection, and publicized at a speed of 300 kb per second. Anyone who wants to "travel" faster, and without advertising, you can subscribe to the service instead of Earthlink, offered $ 21.95 per month. Lower prices for those who have low incomes, with the precise objective - supporting local government - to ensure Internet access for all really.
The agreement also provides certain guarantees on privacy. The use of user data from Google and Earthlink had raised some concerns. The ability to pinpoint the location of each browser, and to memorize tastes, habits and preferences, will to send advertising to measure: the nearest pizzeria, the record store around the corner. According to organizations like the Electronic Frontier Foundation , this is a serious violation of privacy. Google defends itself by saying that the data will be stored for 180 days and then deleted. A guarantee that for many advocates of privacy might not be enough. Enough to stop a free network, anywhere?
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by Corriere.it
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