I'm sorry,
this from Glenn Fleishman is just annoying:
"Eagle-eyed correspondent Klaus Ernst noted that the Wi-Fi in the
parks project has shut down. Wi-Fi Salon, the concessionaire for most
of the major parks, posted a message about the current economic
conditions, but the note is undated.
I was always dubious about Wi-Fi Salon due to the surreal technical
explanations made by its founder, its small size and lack of real-world
experience, and the extensive delays in every step of the project.
Ultimately, something closer to kiosks than coverage were erected, and
I've never seen any usage numbers.
Community Wi-Fi organizers in New York City had a variety of other
ideas about how to offer free Wi-Fi, but parks had its own agenda.
Let's see if they approach this differently this time around."
First off, Glenn, what Klaus noticed, if he is at all honest, is how the Wi-Fi in Union Square is superior to ANY offered in NYC outside of Bryant Park. Period. That is with over 200+ contending networks.
Two
Altais, one mounted on Barnes and Noble, the other on Whole Foods. You want numbers, Glenn? How about 300 users a day even in this weather? How about the ability to support 200 + users simultaneously? That is without much publicity, no signage, and the northern part of the park closed for renovations. This is all through
Wired Towns, my new venture begun in early 2008 to support business improvement districts and small businesses.
There's more to come, too -- other BIDs -- so enjoy your schadenfreude while it lasts.
I will date the note if you like -- December 5th of this last year. That was when my time ran out with parks. Can you even imagine what it is like to get sponsorships in this environment? Whole marketing groups fired, budgets slashed.
And btw Glenn, I believe you have no inkling how hard it was to get the funding to build a free citywide 17 location network. How many phone calls do you think you have to make over how many months to get a sponsor to come to the table? How many meetings? Having ideas about how you'd do something is one thing. Getting it paid for is a whole other matter.
And what other great ideas do others supposedly have to do this? For backhaul, all you have are some real shaky DSL lines. To make matters worse, you have no physical addresses for any of the park locations where we deployed. When a Verizon/Covad technician was dispatched to install a line, he just plain couldn't find the place given what they had for addresses and moved on.
Delays? It took six months, an average of 12 visits and $250K just to get the 17 lines in. I had hired high level telecom project managers and professional field forces to roll this thing out, people who were otherwise doing citywide and national rollouts. We worked and sweated each day for six months. I dare anyone else to attempt it.
But I'll tell you what, if they do, they'd better go fixed wireless off a rooftop and they'd better employ something as heavy duty as an Altai. That is my strategy with
Wired Towns. Parkwifi was first generation -- in equipment, and devices. How good in your estimation was it supposed to have been, given that this was Wi-Fi 1.0? Everyone else btw cratered on this -- philly, SF, etc, etc. Why the vitriol towards me? I guess its easy to do, that's all. At one point -- 2006 -- I had a 46 Mbps fixed wireless link going in to support all 7 Central Park locations. Not bad, given the time. Is that what you meant by surreal? I was trying to push the envelope on behalf of all New Yorkers, but timing here is everything. We needed 'good enough' gear and enough devices. That is only happening now with Altai, with iPhones and other devices.
Now with parkwifi we did achieve some pretty good coverage -- from 400-500 feet away, you could still connect. Not bad. I don't even know what that snide remark about 'kiosks' is supposed to mean. At one point you assumed that we'd be covering all of Central Park -- 843 acres. That is just a little surreal itself. Tell me how that might have worked? You need electricity, backhaul in open green spaces. Good luck with that.
I invested over $1.3 million dollars in sponsorships and personal investments to build the parkwifi network. Do I now look back and say what else could have been done, where I made mistakes? Of course.
But in the end, we had 1000+ users a day -- there's your numbers -- the technology got better, the devices started to arrive (iphones), and the stage was set for providing public Wi-Fi that is 'good enough.' Unfortunately, I will not be doing that in NYC with fixed wireless and Altais because I am 500K short. Any lead on how to secure that in this business environment would be appreciated.
I invite you to respond to this publically. I notice that your blog does not allow comments. That speaks volumes. By contrast, I allow comments and will allow yours. You can always e-mail or phone. I want the same thing as you do -- reliable, free public Wi-Fi.
So Glenn this is your opportunity to be a mensch -- speak to me directly and honestly. I can be reached at marshall@wiredtowns.com or 212-362-6546. If someone has a better idea to do this, that is cover the parks, fine. Love to see it. Over the past five years, I have worked with some really smart people for a long time to do this as best I could. Right now, you are just flaming. You called me out. Here I am.
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