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- holotone, on 10/12/2007, -1/+79Gotta love sensationalism. Seems CNN chose flashiness over accuracy when they penned the title for this article. Google did not patent free Wi-Fi, they patented a system for delivering ads VIA free Wi-Fi, which is a wholly different thing.
A small, but important, distinction. - inactive, on 10/12/2007, -2/+25try going to any airport in the US that has free wireless. the opening page will have ads for the restaurants and stores in the airport. for like the last TWO YEARS.
if you think "this is stuff that hasn't done before" then you're either stupid, or you're being paid by google to astroturf.
this is a silly patent.
ever see the movie "minority report" with tom cruise? where all the ads he saw as he walked around were targeted to his name and to the stores that were nearby?
jesus christ people, get out from under the google worshiping bandwagon. - Jarda, on 10/12/2007, -1/+19Patents are ba... Oh wait, awesome innovation Google!
- bugninja, on 10/12/2007, -2/+11I wish someone would explain to me how everything Google does is good. This is pure awful. +1 for getting ads on free wi-fi in airports for years now.
Same goes for hotels.
In fact our local community has a free wi-fi zone down town, compeltely run by ads, and it's been there for almost 2 years too.
This is the move of a monopoly, not of a competitive US company. If they are the only ones who can offer free wi-fi now because of ad support, then that is pure anti-competitive and evil.
I am 100% off the google worshipping wagon, however, I never was on it.
To see them trying to do something like this is sick. Patents MUST BE STOPPED! - adml_shake, on 10/12/2007, -1/+8In the united states, yes. I'm surprised someone hasn't tried to patent the way the people piss...
- mendicitis, on 10/12/2007, -2/+9What is particularly frightening about this news is not that google will be targeting advertisement per se, it is that google is paving the way to become THE broker for all location based advertisement (read: monopolize).
Scenario: I want a pair of Adidas. I am at my local business and I scan the barcode with my google enabled phone (by the way: barcode scanning cell phones HUGE in Japan, inevitable in the US). Google not only tells me which stores have these shoes in stock, they tell me how many are available in which sizes and where I can find the nearest store with the best price. Yeah, and directions to that store... that's the easy part (google local on the fly). Oh and by the way, google remembers that people who bought Adidas on Friday also like dark roasted coffee at 10am on Tuesdays. The ultimate advertising model that can track purchases to the door.
People will use it because it google will find us cheaper prices. Google creepily benefits by knowing exactly where you are, what you like, what your target demographic is, etc, etc. A complete violation of your every right to privacy (and in my opinion peace and quiet).
On top of this, google gives people access to free google WiFi that is faster than the national average (by significant margins) so who wouldn't use it? A Patent for free WiFi ad delivery systems is just a small piece of the puzzle. If you just connect the dots people... gee I wonder why is google spending time to create google earth (and maps), google local and froogle? All of the pieces are seemingly pointless, especially in isolation from the other pieces and especially if you can't monetize them. Anyone ever wonder how google plans to make money from all of these pieces? I don't wonder anymore, just think about it.
I am terrified at the thought what google is building. Benevolent dictator my ass. Do no evil... I call bull to the nth degree. Be very afraid. By the way, are you ready for this in the next 5 years? You better be. This is the new most evil company ever. - olicat, on 10/12/2007, -3/+10You're kidding, right? this is stuff that hasn't been done before. Imagine going to a new city and sitting in a coffee shop, and you want to find somewhere that sells camping gear. if you're connected to google's wi-fi, you can just search for camping gear, and you'll get a list of shops near by, with maps to each of them so you can just go there.
it's interesting stuff - FarcePest, on 10/12/2007, -0/+6AT&T and Verizon have been threatening to effectively tax Google for using bandwidth they already paid for. http://www.digg.com/technology/AT_T:_Free_Ride_For_Google_And_Others_Is_Over http://www.digg.com/technology/Verizon:_We_re_Ending_Google_s_Free_Lunch_
Bellsouth (now or soon to be owned by AT&T) has been trying to shut down free wi-fi in New Orleans, and other places. http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/12/02/AR2005120201853.html
Verizon has done the same in Pennsylvania. http://orangepolitics.org/2004/11/the-future-of-public-wireless/
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A23826-2004Nov30.html
Google has been buying dark fiber for more than a year. http://news.com.com/Google%20wants%20dark%20fiber/2100-1034_3-5537392.html
Connect the dots, people. To borrow a phrase from Bill Gates, Google is going to cut off their air supply. Free wi-fi is just the beginning. - ryogahibiki, on 10/12/2007, -1/+7Yeah, I see what you mean, mendicitis, Google is becoming kinda Big-Brother-ish. But I'm not yet convinced that they are the "new evil." I AM disappointed that they gave in to the Chinese demands, but no more disappointed than I am in all the other American companies that gave in to their demands. And Google at least put up some semblance of a fight against the Bush administration to not release our search data. So is Google the "new evil"? No, at least not yet. But they're definitely moving into a gray area.
- CubeFarmDrone, on 10/12/2007, -0/+4incognegro,
Being free doesn't mean that something is worthless. The patent just stops people from stealing the idea and profiting from it. - inactive, on 10/12/2007, -0/+4A couple of old proverbs will tell us the truth about google.
Power corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutely.
And as GI Joe taught us "Knowledge is power"
And since google is gaining absolute knowledge..
that's right boys and girls
Cobra Commander is using google to find heavy water.
wait huh? - macewan, on 10/12/2007, -0/+4agree with olicat, this would be useful
- CosmicJustice, on 10/12/2007, -0/+4I agree. It's just a matter of time before Google has as much of a "monopoly" on the web as Microsoft ever had on the desktop. People never see this stuff coming until it's too late.
- invader, on 10/12/2007, -0/+4"Google patents free Wi-Fi"
let's start with the first word: "Google". ok good.. no screw ups...... yet.
"patents" - whoops! someone needs to peruse a dictionary and learn what the verb 'to patent' implies.
to patent != to file for a patent
object noun (with adjective) "free Wi-Fi" - yes, the patent applications are related to providing free Wi-Fi, but what they are attempting to patent is the process in which the service is provided. i checked out the patents a day or two ago.. i'm pretty sure the three applications basically cover showing ads, charging the WAP host instead of the customer, and delivering location-specific ads
the title for this article SUCKS - cursor, on 10/12/2007, -0/+4And everyone says "Microsoft" is evil. WTF.
- everfalling, on 10/12/2007, -4/+7there's a big difference between grabbing analogue tv off the air and getting online through a nation-wide wifi hotspot. for one, who carries around an entire TV? to cafe's and work no less. also, you only get a few channels off the airewaves anyhow. wifi gives access to the entire internet, albeit at dial-up speeds i bet. yeah, the idea is pretty much the same, but this wifi is more useful and can be put to better use. no more paying for dialup if all you need is a wifi card.
- Wireddd, on 10/12/2007, -0/+3At least they patented something they plan to bring to the marketplace.
- groovepapa, on 10/12/2007, -0/+3Yeah, this is a big strike against Google for me. They've made some great strides for the common 'net user, but patenting business models is bogus. Like you said, there is nothing new or innovative in this approach, and airports & hotels have been doing it for years. I would hope that Google make a statement about their intentions for these patents.
What if *I* want to create a municipal Wifi network in my own hometown that is funded by ad revenue from local businesses? Is Google going to sue me? - mantorp, on 10/12/2007, -2/+5maybe they just patent this to make sure they don't get sued by someone else over it
- beavioso, on 10/12/2007, -0/+3You also have to love the fact that the use the word "Patented" when according to another source, i.e. a much better written article (http://www.zdnetasia.com/news/communications/0,39044192,39346317,00.htm), the patents are just published. You see in the US, the patent office now publishes patents that are still being reviewed. I believe this was done to sync up with other patent offices around the world, but not sure.
So again, they haven't patented anything. They have filed applications in hopes to get a patent, but they haven't got a patent on "free wifi". - Icecream, on 10/12/2007, -0/+2The title of the article is a little misleading but a good read
+1 Digg - Cthalupa, on 10/12/2007, -1/+3Being in charge of the market is not illegal. Using your market share to take over a different market by force is.
Google is going to provide ad-supported wifi. That is not a monopoly. If there is another wifi provider at that location, you are just as free to use their spot for whatever method they use to pay for the cost.
If things ever get to the point you describe, there's a simple solution if you're worried about google knowing your shopping habits: Don't use their system.
But am I the only one who doesn't really care if Advertising Company X knows that I like coke, and eat at Burger King, whereas most Coke drinkers like McDonalds? Do you care if they know that 3% of the people who bought a trampoline also have AMD based systems?
Advertising isn't a bad thing. The more targetted the ads become, the more you'll see things that might interest you, and less viagra spam. - ZekeSulastin, on 10/12/2007, -0/+2lalalala reported inaccurate
- Cerberus047, on 10/12/2007, -0/+2YES YES YES free advertisements!!! im about to wet myself at the thought of advritisers trying to put stuff in my head through satalites!!! YES YES YES!!
- Antimatter3009, on 10/12/2007, -0/+2In other news, people can't read.
Seriously people:
http://www.seroundtable.com/archives/003553.html
They didn't patent a business model, they patented a few technologies that will allow a certain business model to work. That's a big difference. These are perfectly valid patents involving software innovation. Now, if you disagree with software patents (as I happen to) you may still see this is a bad thing, but as long as they exist you can't really blame a business for using them. - teknopagan, on 10/12/2007, -0/+2Alright, let's look at this again. Using your Adidas example, mendicitis- first of all, one of two things could happen here. Either this will drive prices down in nearly every consumer market sector, or it won't happen at all because companies will stop reporting their prices online to keep out of pricing wars. More likely to be the former, because at least 2 or 3 stores in every area will report pricing, and I know I personally (and most folks I know) don't take the time to go calling around stores that don't list their pricing if a few stores do.
So, in exchange for their knowledge of our tastes, habits, and preferences, we get more useful advertising (like cthalupa said, no more Viagra spam unless we actually need/want it) and lower prices almost everywhere. I'm really not seeing the bad side to this. Again I agree with cthalupa in that I really couldn't care less if Google knows my online shopping habits, or if I'm more inclined to eat at Taco Bell on a Thursday, or if I happen to get advertising for more expensive products every two weeks or so when I get paid (becuase my history says I'm more likely to spend in that pattern) - my credit card company knows this too, and probably sells this information on the sly. At least Google is fairly honest about it.
As for the whole "monopoly" issue - Google does not have a monopoly. I know plenty of people who, for whatever misguided reason, prefer Yahoo! or MSN search to Google. Probably for the same reasons they prefer drooling on the couch in front of American Idol to picking up a copy of National Geographic or Pop Sci. What Google does have, however, is a collection of excellent products and services that get used by a very large number of people because of the quality of said products as compared to their competitors. There's nothing wrong with this - it's called the marketplace. If Ford (or Honda, or frickin Fiat) came out with a vehicle that best fit the needs of 75-80% of the car-buying public, and all of those people decided to buy said car (manufacturing limits notwithstanding) - would you accuse Ford of having a monopoly, or would you congratulate them on a well made product? Apparently most Diggers would just hate, because it's kewl to be in the minority.
Face it, kids, you're not the Rebel Alliance going up against the Empire. Successful companies are not always dirty or evil. Sometimes they're just good at what they do. - magneticpigeon, on 10/12/2007, -2/+4Agreed. Even if this isn't particularly 'innovative' I do like that they are taking steps to insure (hopefully) future free wifi. I'm tired of going into Starbucks and Kinkos and having to pay for internet, thats rather frustrating.
- CubeFarmDrone, on 10/12/2007, -0/+2"Knowing is half the battle."
- G.I. Joe
- chadell, on 10/12/2007, -0/+2Imagine a Google Bar & Grill. Of course the booze and food comes free with Google adwords
- jarvelated, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1All I know is that if google decides to name their free wifi service SkyNet, we are all in trouble
- Fantasmike, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1Let's be realistic about patents. If Google just puts this plan into action and doesn't protect themselves what do you think would happen? Someone else would either patent some part of the technology and sue Google for billions or some obscure company would have a patent in some part of the country that could be construed as an infringement by Google resulting in another lawsuit. You can bet your a$$ that I would patent any ideas I had for this technology, especially if I was a big company like Google with a dollar sign bullseye painted on my back.
- ryogahibiki, on 10/12/2007, -1/+2These days getting a patent can often be viewed as a Defensive legal measure to protect yourself from patent lawsuits. Think of all that bullcrap the RIM Blackberry guys just went through with that lame patent lawsuit put against them.
There are companies out there specifically made to just create or use patents in order to sue other successful companies. Our national patent system really needs to change in order to stop all these frivolous patent lawsuits that is stifling business ingenuity. - johndi, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1This patent everything is going too far, let the backlash begin!
- msaleem, on 10/12/2007, -3/+4old news, but more here: http://money.cnn.com/magazines/business2/business2_archive/2005/09/01/8356497/
- Portfolioso, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1And if people do their hacking from this wifi, how will they be traced?
- bugninja, on 10/12/2007, -4/+5It is rediculous to patent something such as a business model or process.
How can you patent a location where you are putting advertising. So if I want to offer free coffee because I am running ads on my cups, can this be patented? That's just not right, it's a marketing strategy, not an innovation - just as advertising on free wifi.
patents are pure evil. - elamr, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1lol sassy.
- dmclone, on 10/12/2007, -1/+2Some of you are way to paranoid. Here is an idea, if you think Google is evil and taking over the world then don’t use anything they have and shut-up. Why is it that every company that does good is evil?
I think Google has put out a lot of cool products in the last few years and they are trying to do the right thing. If I was Google, I would start worrying if people stop calling you evil. It probably means that you’ve failed.
When Google starts wanting to put chips in my brain I’ll start worrying. - mousky, on 10/12/2007, -2/+3Put on your tin foil hat and be afraid if you want. Are you being forced to use your bar code scanning phone? Are you being forced to use everything all things Google? Afraid of Google? Don't use it or use a competitor or create your search engine or app.
- elamr, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1It is amazing that so many people are bitching about this. The broadband companies are one of the main reasons that the U.S. is so far behind on the broadband infrastructure.
What I don't get is the the broadband companies must see their end comming yet they try to stop it by suing/ threatening towns and cities for providing Wireless: http://news.com.com/Cities+brace+for+broadband+war/2009-1034_3-5680305.html
It reminds me of an MPAA/RIAA tactic. WHy don't they DO something proactive about it instead of simply reacting. Trying to impede progressive technological ideas is like trying to piss out this forest fire. - stan205, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1I'm glad at least one person can put the pieces together. Broadband prices are way too high and this is what we need as consumers to create competition in a marketplace that's ruled by greed.
- parrotscience, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1Wow... another patent.... Now I'll have more licencing fees to pay.
I've had to pay royalties to this guy every day since 1977 http://patft.uspto.gov/netacgi/nph-Parser?patentnumber=4,022,227 for using the patented combover technique. - rhawk301, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1@bugninja business models and processes are what patents are for. For instance the first telephone call center and patents related to that. Who would have thought arranging a bunch of chairs into "cubicles" and separating them by a little "partition" would make such a big hit. I certainly believe there are lines to be drawn for patents (as there are some stupid ones), but some are good. This Google one does seem a lot like national and local media ads as expressed by television now (thanks @farksuck). I am not quite sure if this should be a patent or not. However, I agree with @Fantasmike that in this crazy patent everything country somebody else would have done it, and made it worse for everyone.
- elamr, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1Dcode: How are they insuring (or assuring) free wi-fi with advertising?
The Wi-fi service costs money to provide. They (google) will pay for it with the ad money... - groupofone, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1Google may have nothing on Wayport (an established Wi-Fi hotspot provider) with regards to these patents: http://wifinetnews.com/archives/006431.html
- altidude, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1The funny thing (to me) is that this article title comes from a section of the CNN Money site called "THE BROWSER: Truth and rumors from the tech world". How much do you want to bet that the person that came up with that title is a Google shareholder.
- elamr, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1G.I. JOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOE
- oneiroi, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1I think you all are taking this out of context.
They patented a particular technology that enables ads over free wifi.
Other companies can create their own technology to do this and not have to pay the patent.
It's like saying that Google patented interenet searching. Yes they probably have a patent over their particular search alogorithms, but there are still other companies with internet searches completely different than theirs who do not fall under the patent.
Thus they are not patenting a business method,but particular algorithms and code, as far as I can tell by the reading. - elamr, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1"if you think "this is stuff that hasn't done before" then you're either stupid, or you're being paid by google to astroturf."
Very funny.. farksucks had me ROLLIN!! but I disagree. I've seen it in LAX, Kennedy, the local Barnes & Nobles and many other places locally, but none of these are free where I live (colorado). Typically, they require a major credit card, then charge something like $4 for an hour.. bad connection, too bad. Not sure where you folks live but I haven't seen Wifi free very often in the U.S.
And I why is everybody's hair is on fire about Google getting a patent? They will patent there particular device/application. It does not mean that no one else can put ads on a wireless network.
Anyone seen the episode of Futurama where the word "mom" was trademarked? I don't think that is how it works. - johndi, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1@ everfalling
Welcome to 1956. The portable TV has just been invented, it's as portable as a laptop computer, and has ads. You may think they are archaic, but you see them at baseball games all the time, and someone must still be buying them Amazon has a whole section for them, over 100 models. -
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