It’s the first time that I’ve returned to Toronto after the “Wireless World” piece aired on CBC. I’ve stopped for a coffee on Queen, and I pop open my laptop to see if the hotspots I found and revealed to CBC viewers on TV are still there. They sure are, but they are now password-protected. Good on ya, linksys.
It’s good to see people implementing the sound advice in the Marketplace clip, which, briefly put, was to put a password on your wireless network if you don’t want to share your connection. Returning to this spot after the clip aired, I admit it may have been a little sweeter to see people renaming their networks “free for everybody” and “come on in” as a welcome mat to those endowed with wireless cards roaming the city. But the choice remains with the owner of the network, and no one is obliged to share the peanuts.
Over in Montréal. meanwhile, some good community-minded people are starting an initiative called “Île Sans Fil” that is opening wireless hotspots around the city, which are free to use. I met with one of the founders and I foresee good things happening with Île Sans Fil – not just free internet access, but exciting, cool, community and creatively oriented stuff. Keep your eye on them.
In the meantime, I’m going to keep walking down the street and see what I find so I can post this entry.
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