Wibiki just announced that they will embrace new Wi-Fi services and models, such as Fon's. They will even adapt their software so that Wibiki users can use free FON hotspots.
Of course, one really only has two choices when a competitor all of a sudden becomes BIG friends with Google, Skype, Cisco and the like. Either you 'embrace' them, or you make a big noise about how their product is inferior. Wibiki chose to do the former, but did mention that Wibiki is the only company to still offer totally free access.
So why is Fon better than Wibiki? In my opinion it has nothing to do with Fon getting $22mm in funding, but with the simple fact that Fon integrates both for-fee and for-free models. I don't think Fon does this particularly well, or in an innovative way. It simply offers both models under one brand name.
But the fact that it offers both means it can compete for the minds and hearts of different kinds of hotspots owners: The small entrepreneurs who intend to setup hotspots at various locations, as well as the guy wanting to share with 2 or 3 neighbours.
Wibiki, the Company that provides
software for a free Wi-Fi world, said today it will extend its free Wi-Fi platform to embrace new Wi-Fi services and models. The Company will provide free Wi-Fi software for more routers, including NetGear. Wibiki will also enhance free Wi-Fi software for laptops to help users find FON (http://www.fon.com) hotspots when free Wi-Fi is unavailable.
CEO Shant Hovnanian said "Wibiki is all about free. We intend to make Wibiki compatible with any company and all organizations that include a free Wi-Fi access component in their offering. We recognize that the FON model primarily depends on user access fees, but they've told us hotspot owners will have the option to provide Wi-Fi without charge."
Wibiki will continue to focus on free Wi-Fi for users and communities. It has developed a new user opt-in advertising service to pay for free user services. Wibiki has filed patents for technology that increases user control of Internet ads on their screens. "Pop-up" ads will be excluded by the new service. Initial funding for Wibiki was provided by Speedus Corp., the company that pioneered development of wireless broadband in the early 90s.
Wibiki remains the only company offering a totally free Wi-Fi platform -- free software for both clients and routers -- that make it simple and safe to share wireless access. Wibiki intends to continue its investment in giving all users an easier way to find and connect to the best free Wi-Fi available. Users can download and install Wibiki from http://www.wibiki.com.
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