Microsoft edges into muni Wi-Fi
TechWeb | at | by Mike
Struggling to catch up in the wireless online advertising market, Microsoft announced Wednesday that it will launch a Wi-Fi pilot program to cover Portland, Ore. The advertising-supported service, to be deployed by MetroFi Inc., will be free for Portland residents and, Microsoft hopes, will give it a leg up on its search engine competitors.
Beginning next month when users log onto the service, they will be greeted by a Microsoft MSN screen as well as messages with a Portland orientation like weather forecasts, local news, and restaurant reviews. The service will deliver speeds of up to 1 Mbps downlink and 256 Kbps uplink. MetroFi will offer a faster and ad-free service for $20 a month.