Google Patents Bring WiFi Down To Earth

One day, my pie in the sky will be crumbs on a plate. Full-bellied, my GoogleNet wireless connection will intuitively retrieve an ad for Alka-Seltzer; the bubbly concoction plop-plop fizz-fizzes with tiny executive voices admitting in fizzy whispers, "yes, Jason, Google's full of it." On March 16th, three wireless patent applications were published by the US Patent & Trademark office, submitted by Google employees. The applications, in large comforting letters at the top, announce the subject of their protection: Patent #20060059043: Method and system to provide wireless access at a reduced rate Methods and system for providing wireless access at a reduced rate. In one embodiment, access to a WAP is provided to an end-user at a rate subsidized by a first entity. The first entity includes advertisements in an end-user view. Patent Google+employees+wireless+patents+published/2100-1038_3-6054310.html" class="bluelink">CNet asked Google about the patents, the Internet advertising authority responded with a wordy "so what?" "Like many companies, we file patent applications on a variety of ideas that our employees may come up with. Some of those ideas later mature into real products or services; some don't," a company representative said. "Prospective product announcements should not be inferred from our patent applications." But, but, but, butdidn't they just last month join forces with Earthlink to propose a two-tiered wireless citywide service to San Francisco? Well yeah, because Google and Earthlink believe in open access to the worlds information. "We have submitted this proposal because at Google we're focused on creating new technologies that make it easier for people to quickly access the world's information," said Google. "Customers shouldn't be tied to their desks, or to a single provider, to get the Internet experience they want. Both EarthLink and Google recognize this and are attempting to provide great service and choice in San Francisco," would not morph into an Internet service provider because ISP's are "lousy businesses." But one thing missed here is that advertising and media companies are not lousy businesses. Google is morphing into a network, and teaming up with ISP's to deliver content and advertising. Let's do some more math. Google buys up alphabet soup of speedy extra capacity Internet technology + huge here.") Drag this to your Bookmarks. Add to document.write("Del.icio.us") Yahoo My Web