WiFiTastic Launches Paid Home HotSpot Program with Free Linksys Routers

What if you could get paid to share your broadband Internet connection? Sound too good to be true? It may be, but that hasn't stopped WiFiTastic from launching a new broadband sharing platform that pays you cash for turning your home or business broadband connection into a commercial WiFi hotspot.

By installing and configuring a Linksys WRT54G router for WiFiTastic's service, broadband subscribers can now can turn their excess Internet connection into an income generator. WiFiTastic clients set the billing rate and time increments (hourly, daily, monthly) they'd like to charge to access their connection. Authentication and billing are handled by WiFiTastic who kicks 60% of the revenue back to the hotspot owner.

First Impressions

I haven't had a chance to try this product yet, but thought the concept was interesting enough to warrant covering. My first impression was that this company has to be insane to think residential and retail businesses can resell their bandwidth without violating their ISP contracts.

I brought my ISP concern to WiFiTastic's attention yesterday, which led to an update to their FAQ regarding this issue. Here's what they have to say about the issue now:

Am I allowed to share my connection?

Different countries and Internet providers have different rules. You should check the terms and conditions of your Internet connection from your Internet service provider.

In addition to the FAQ answer, the Electronic Freedom Foundation has started a list of providers that have been confirmed to allow sharing of bandwidth.

Unfortunately, this is only a partial list and can't be seen as definitive either. It is definitely something that users will have to check with their particular plan.

So it looks like it may be possible in some cases.

The ISP Shakeout. Is Free is Worse than Wholesale?

ISPs make nothing off users poaching free bandwidth from their neighbors or local businesses today. If those unsecured hotspots became WiFiTastic hotspots, would bandwidth usage drop at the ISP level? ISPs don't see any of the revenue generated off their bandwidth, but it seems feasible that bandwidth consumption could actually drop.

Free Linksys Router?

Well, not necessarily free. They'll sell you the router for $79.95 + $9.95 shipping, then send you a rebate for the cost of the router once you've generated $250 in billable time on your WiFiTastic account. If you already have a Linksys WRT54G you can download the firmware upgrade to join the program. Or pick up the Linksys WT54G from Amazon today for $49.99 after rebate with free shipping.

Feedback

Let us know what kind of issues you run into with your ISP. Whether you make any money off this system, and anything else you learn along the way.

Another project worth checking out is FON. Their goal is free internet everywhere, so don't expect to make any money off the deal.

However, they will front half the cost of your WRT54GL (they've got seed money from google and skype), meaning you get one of the best home routers for a paltry $25+shipping. They also let you download the their custom firmware if you already own one.

Thanks for pointing out FON, Nick. I'd hate to try to pick a winner between these two very different approaches to growing bandwidth accessibility.

Comments

1. Posted by: Rob on April 2, 2006 2:25 PM:

Hi Ed,

Just wanted to post a note for any of your readers who are thinking about buying their router from Amazon. We're delighted for users to get their routers anywhere and will still offer the $80 rebate if users don't buy their router from us.

People do need to be careful that they get a supported version of the router though. Most of the routers sold today are the version 5 which can't run the wifitastic firmware. Details here:

http://wifitastic.com/cart.php?target=help&mode=faq&page=upgrade

thanks,

Rob

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