[wirelesstoronto-discuss] App idea

Thu Oct 22 13:58:15 EDT 2009

I've been tinkering with some Jailbreak-friendly apps recently, and
wondering if there's an opportunity in that space for us.

Specifically, there are a number of applications that will turn an iphone
into an ad-hoc wifi router, using 3g as the backhaul. This got me wondering
if there as any utility in creating a similar app that could be configured
to use either 3g/edge or a neighbouring closed wifi hotspot (such as second
cup or starbucks) and repeat a wireless Toronto open hotspot.

Is this the sort of thing that could be cobbled together from existing open
source technology, or would it be a major programming challenge? If it's the
former, iot might be worth creating versions for WinMo and Android, and
unleash a legion of ad-hoc hotspots.

Also, are there legal implications we should be worried about?

Mo

From: wirelesstoronto-discuss-bounces at wirelesstoronto.ca
[mailto:wirelesstoronto-discuss-bounces at wirelesstoronto.ca] On Behalf Of
Gabe Sawhney
Sent: October-22-09 1:34 PM
To: wirelesstoronto-discuss at wirelesstoronto.ca
Subject: Re: [wirelesstoronto-discuss] stuff at Ile Sans Fil

Short answer: Sure, I'm up for a coffee.  

Long answer: 
There's no clear answer to question about if or how we could start using
OpenID:
- Right how we're managing most of our hotspots using wifidog, which doesn't
support OpenID.
- A new version of wifidog is in development.  It also won't have built-in
support for OpenID, but it'll feature an API which will allow us to use
WordPress (or, um, other CMSes) for our portal pages.
- So, our portal page CMS could use OpenID.
- At the same time, we're experimenting with mesh networks, using the
open-mesh platform.  
- Wifidog has no clear roadmap with respect to mesh networks.
- I have a vision for a multi-layered
authentication/bandwidth-accounting/abuse-prevention system for our network
which no open-source platform I've found can currently support.
- We've gotta figure out what direction we want to go as a group and as a
network, and keep an eye out in the next few months to see which platforms
evolve in which ways.  It's a complex landscape of options.

Wireless Toronto's new board structure features a position responsible for
"R&D", which is presently not filled.  Interested?

Gabe

On Tue, Oct 20, 2009 at 8:12 PM, James Walker <walkah at walkah.net> wrote:

OK, I now feel sufficiently goaded into un-lurking on this list ;-)

openid support? transparent login? revamp'ing portal pages?

I'm in!

I have no idea what the internals of WT auth looks like right now -
gabe? maybe we should grab a coffee?

On Tue, Oct 20, 2009 at 7:57 PM, Michele Perras
<michele.perras at gmail.com> wrote:
> Inspired by Chris Messina's talk this evening- how difficult or relevant
> would it be to integrate OpenID as the WT auth?
>
> On 2009-10-20, at 1:50 PM, jason roks <jason at wirelesstoronto.ca> wrote:
>
> I like the idea of a premium service for venues to cover costs for those
who
> want to take advantage of the portal pages. I am not suggesting
> any pricing scheme but I think the idea has merit to help stimulate portal
> development.
> also for us, just catching up on past venue billing would be a good first
> step =)
> Is there any discussion about auto login? maybe the iphone app can offer
> that?
> It would be good to piggy back on their iphone development.
> Ile Sans Fil really started all this for us and I think we need to keep a
> closer eye on how they operate because they have had much more success
that
> we have in TO. I recognize the perception of free wifi is very different
> here -- it is expected here as it is in Vancity.
> Over all it is a fact that Toronto has very little free/open wifi compared
> to other cities in Canada and the world.  I am sure WT can continue to
> change that.
> I'm pleased to see the discussion list is active again. I'm looking
forward
> to hearing and seeing what the WT community has to say and will do about
all
> this.
> Jason
> -
>
> 2009/10/20 Gabe Sawhney <gabe at pwd.ca>
>>
>> I lurk on the volunteers mailing list of Ile Sans Fil (our sister group
in
>> Montreal).  Here's a summary of some of the stuff they discussed at their
>> last meeting:
>>
>> - They ran event wifi for PodCamp Montreal, which had 500 attendees.
>> - They might be running event wifi for the Montreal Game Summit, which
has
>> around 2000 attendees.  They're working on some special equipment for
this.
>> - They're floating the idea of a second-tier network membership for
>> venues; it'd be $120 or $240/year.  The venue would be identified on the
map
>> in a different colour, it'd come with a higher level of personal service
at
>> the time of installation, would allow them to edit some content on the
>> portal page, and would offer bandwidth limiting.  Plus they'd be
providing
>> additional support to ISF.
>> - They recently implemented a new bandwidth usage policy for users.
>> - They've got an iPhone application coming out, which sounds a bit like
>> the "Wireless Toronto" app.  (Which we have nothing to do with.)  They're
>> going to be offering a free and a $2 version.
>> - They're trying to figure out how to resolve the problem of that wifidog
>> allows non-case-sensitive usernames.
>> - They're rethinking their current 20-minute grace period upon account
>> creation, recognizing that many accounts are never validated.  Options
>> they're considering are: offering a 24-hour grace period, better
>> instructions/interface, redirecting new users to the webmail login of
their
>> email service provider (when possible), and taking whatever steps
possible
>> to ensure that validation emails don't end up in spam folders.
>> - The next major version of wifidog is in development; they're sprinting
>> with monthly releases.  The major new features are an API to facilitate
>> Wordpress-based portal pages, and remote router configuration.
>> - They're working on a system that'll allow venues to pay their annual
>> network membership fees by credit card.
>>
>>
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--
James Walker :: http://walkah.net/ :: xmpp:walkah at walkah.net
<mailto:xmpp%3Awalkah at walkah.net> 

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