Analysis: Google's Wi-Fi plan for San Francisco signals ambitions

IDG News Service - Google Inc.'s expansion into public Wi-Fi could be a boon to the embattled municipal broadband movement and presents intriguing new possibilities for the search giant -- though putting the traditional carriers out of business isn't likely to be one of them.
The company moved its wireless ambitions ahead on Friday, submitting a proposal to provide wireless Internet access throughout San Francisco. Few details of the plan were provided, but the city had asked for ideas and comments on how to provide access to everyone in the city either for free or at low cost. Google's was one of 24 proposals received, Mayor Gavin Newsom said at a news conference yesterday. If the rest of the decision-making process goes smoothly, such a service might go live within five or six months, he said.
Projects to deliver public Internet access under the auspices of municipal governments have come under fire for being financially risky or unfair to other service providers, with a plan by Philadelphia becoming a lightning rod for the debate. Philadelphia is expected to announced its contracts for citywide Wi-Fi this week. (Google hasn't expressed any interest in Philadelphia's project.)
Google, whose billions in annual revenue are generated through targeted ads associated with online searches, might be able to improve the economics of such plans via location-based advertising. But it's a big leap for the Mountain View, Calif.-based company, which now has its hands in free e-mail, video and maps, among other things.
Google is already dabbling in wireless projects. In April, it began sponsoring a hot spot in San Francisco's Union Square, and last month a page appeared on Google's Web site offering download instructions for "Google Secure Access," a client the page says "allows you to establish a more secure connection while using Google Wi-Fi." The company has so far declined to elaborate on its Wi-Fi plans and could not be reached for comment yesterday.
For the past year, Google has been sponsoring the free Wi-Fi network in New York's Bryant Park. On that project, though, Google's contribution is purely financial; the company isn't controlling the network or tracking traffic across it. Bryant Park's Wi-Fi hot spot, launched in 2002, is managed by a local nonprofit group, the Public Internet Project.
San Francisco is exploring ways to provide ubiquitous high-speed wireless service in order to create an attractive city for innovative people and businesses, as well as helping economically disadvantaged residents get online, Newsom said. Last month, it sought comments from the public as well as information from