Yahoo is testing a new WiFi service with selected users, says TechCrunch.
The survey (screen shot below) suggests that Yahoo’s new messenger product will be able to access certain wifi networks and allow IMing and VOIP calls (this is assuming those networks are restricted in some way). They do not name the networks the may be partnering with, but do say:
“Now when you are on the move to the places that you go most - airports, hotels, coffee shots - you can stop twiddling your thumbs and start communicatinig via instant message with the people you care about most…all for free”.
If the service goes live, you will also be able to get unrestricted access to those networks for $7.95 per month, or two hours for $2.95.
Antonescu Razvan says it is Yahoo’s intention to offer global free WiFi through partners (limited to Yahoo! IM) and full WiFi for a decent fee.
Other large-scale, free WiFi networks, include San Francisco (Google/Earthlink), Portland, Oregon (MetroFi), and Sunnyvale-SantaClara-Cupertino (MetroFi).
Om Malik thinks GoogleNet will take over the world.
John Dvorak disagrees, saying pressure from bean counters within the government and commercial vendors will combine to kill free service. “Free and universal municipal Wi-Fi, if and where it appears, will be a short-term phenomenon,” opines Dvorak.
It’s all about the click-throughs, says the Public WiFi Project.
Meanwhile, Yahoo acquired a PVR software company, Meedio. Whether Yahoo will also plug in their music service and video downloads is still unknown. Yahoo users can already program their TiVo box via a special site on Yahoo if they use TiVo Series2 recorders. AT&T’s MediaPortal set top box will integrate Yahoo! Broadband and DISH Network with over 10,000 video titles on demand.
Can the free triple play be far behind?
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