Not clear in reading the article exactly what they plan other than (maybe) providing hot spots, which a lot of ISPs and other vendors are doing, albeit in a spotty, ad-hoc fashion in many cases.
What’s the big deal with Google Wireless? Am I misunderstanding what they intend on providing? Any Dopers in the know?
Unless someone with insider knowledge posts something, all we can go on are the links mentioned the article, and found by following those same links:
http://wifi.google.com/faq.html
http://wifi.google.com/download.html (You can download the BETA program)
http://wifi.google.com/privacy-policy.html
From the FAQ:
" Google Secure Access is a new product that is only available at certain locations in the San Francisco Bay Area."
Whatever it is, it ain’t where I live.
That’s on the Google secure access applet you can DL for use on wireless networks. I was looking for more info on the purported plans to build a massive nationwide wireless network.
That’s just the thing. There is no evidence that Google has any intention of doing so.
Right now, they’ve put a WiFi hotspot into their pizza parlor and company gym and a single San Francisco square.
I’ve heard that Google makes it a habit of regularly announcing random, crazy stuff just to throw off their competition.
So… downloadable digital ice cream is *not * going to happen?! 
Bastards! :mad:
Alas, no Grotica either.