Added link to article in the first post. Read what he says about his idea....
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Quote:
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Here's how the process works. I call it WhyFi. First we need to encourage what are essentially noncommercial hotspots and we do that not by revenue sharing but by providing free equipment. Anyone who wants to start a hotspot gets a free WiFi access point and a free WiFi client card for a notebook or other computer. Since all the hardware is identical this makes building and maintaining a network much easier. If you want to be part of the WhyFi network, you have to accept WhyFi equipment.
The only thing that makes WhyFi hardware any different from what you could buy at CompUSA is slightly different firmware. This firmware establishes for the hotspot owner a DMZ in which the public traffic is contained as well as a RADIUS function required for network authorization. Public traffic can consume up to 100 percent of available bandwidth but availability is defined by what isn't being used by the hotspot owner. The result is you can run a hotspot without having to endure any sort of performance hit.
The WhyFi card also contains different firmware that establishes similar DMZ and RADIUS functions though in this case they operate in an ad hoc network around your notebook or dektop.
Your incentive to operate a WhyFi hotspot is free service for you when you leave home. The hardware and software are free. There is no performance hit. And your WhyFi card gives you free unlimited access to the entire network through MAC address filtering. So while you don't make any money from the WhyFi network it also doesn't cost you anything to belong.
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So you'd give open access in return for it. This could be huge IMO.