Transmeta (Semiconductor) (TMTA)

[sf_tal]

SF & Wi-fi

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2006/04/06/GOOGLE.TMP&type=tech

S.F. picks Google, EarthLink

High-tech giants chosen to establish free wireless Internet network for everyone in the city -- and it could be up by the end of the year

Verne Kopytoff, Chronicle Staff Writer
Thursday, April 6, 2006

San Francisco on Wednesday chose the high-tech team of Google and EarthLink to bring free, wireless Internet access to virtually everyone in the city, possibly by the end of the year.
The two companies, which were recommended by a city panel evaluating the project, beat out five other bidders for a chance at the highly coveted contract.
After a contract is negotiated by the city, reviewed by the Board of Supervisors and the network built, residents will be able to log on wirelessly whether at home, in a park or at work.
"I am still hopeful, and maybe I'm a cockeyed optimist, that we can finish this year," said Chris Vein, executive director of San Francisco's technology department.
In choosing to negotiate with the Google-EarthLink team, the city is going with two Internet giants with marque names. Both firms have deep pockets and proven track records online, but only limited experience building a large wireless network.
The project, championed by Mayor Gavin Newsom, is intended to boost the city's technology credentials and help bridge the digital divide between the Internet haves and have-nots. It has also generated intense interest from other cities looking to build similar networks.
For its part, Google, in Mountain View, intends to provide the free, so-called Wi-Fi access. The service it proposes would be faster than dial-up but slower than a typical broadband connection.
In its joint bid, Earthlink plans to offer speedier access, but for a fee. No price has been set, but EarthLink plans to charge around $20 a month in other cities where it is negotiating Wi-Fi contracts, including in Philadelphia and Anaheim.
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It remains to be seen whether residents will use the Wi-Fi system as a replacement for their existing wire-based Internet connections. Early fears by the mayor that the telecommunications industry would fight against the project by filing lawsuits have yet to materialize.
Chronicle staff writer Rachel Gordon contributed to this report.
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