WiFi Pyramid Scheme

A new system from wireless network ‘enabler’ Fon promises to make you rich by selling on the wireless networks of places like Starbucks. The Fonera box will let you resell a wireless network you’ve tapped into for $2 a user. After the Fonera owner pays the $12 for accessing the Starbucks network, Fon will split the $2 charge evenly with the owner for every person who uses their WiFi box. Their site says:

Welcome to Fonbucks, where FON + Starbucks = cash for you. If you live above or next to a Starbucks (or any cafe/coffee shop for that matter!), you are eligible for a free wireless router that will earn you cash from the minute you plug it in. This also means if you are a cafe, coffee shop, restaurant or other public venue you are eligible too! By installing your FON router, you let others share your broadband for a daily fee. A fee that goes straight into your pocket. A savvy patron of your Starbucks need only pay $2 a day for your WiFi. They’d have to be a grande drip to pay the $10 Starbucks charges. Each customer who chooses you puts $1 into your latte fund. Cha-ching.

We suppose that someone with a Fonero in the vicinity of another Fonera could pay $2 and connect to the neighboring box and then go and to sell more wireless packages. And so on and so on. Commenting, Engagdet says:

Granted this still isn’t a scheme for those paranoid about home network security, bandwidth usage, or nefarious hax0rs type with a spoofed MAC and a keen eye for easy hotspot access, but who knows, for those near Starbucks (yes, they’ll be checking against known locations) it might even be worth it to buy a budget DSL line just to profit with Fon.

La Fonera