View Full Version : Suggestion request for commerical support
sauermfj
16-03-2005, 10:03 PM
Hi Guys
As some might know, we are running a commercial venture that aims to support community mesh networks amongst others.
Do you have any suggestions on how we can best serve your interests?
htttp://www.airhive.net
franss@softstart.co.za
Nice approach - I like. My personal opinion is that any commercial venture interested in displaying contextual committment, i.e. alignment to the context within which it operates, is to provide evidentiary proof of this for public consumption. So... as your stated aim is to support community mesh networks, suggest you pursue a joint venture with JAWUG to provide connectivity to an unconnected school, utilising your commercial proceeds for this purpose. As a commercial venture, methinx you could claim this as a write-off, with the marketing prospects and goodwill generated far exceeding the cost of the initial outlay...
sauermfj
17-03-2005, 06:47 AM
You aren't the first to suggest this. In actual fact, this may also provide excellent marketing for us. Go on...which school?
There's plenty of impoverished ones to choose from, even in the area of your home base (I think you mentioned Centurion, somewhere - perhaps then a school in Ebony/Ivory Park). BUT - this should be a joint venture wih JAWUG (or the Pretoria-based one - PAWUG/Tshwane, whatever it's called), for mutual benefit - suggest you private mail The Rodent or Daffy, to take this further.
daffy
17-03-2005, 11:18 AM
The Jawug network in my home area has at least 6 schools in its coverage.
(and thats only within 5km's of my house)
There is definate possibility for some good here...
Perhaps we should contact Obsidian about the old Schools Network? (They're in charge of the school.za tld, and they used to run an interschool network on dial-up)
TheRoDent
17-03-2005, 05:17 PM
I'd rather work with Obsidian than air-nothing.net, quite frankly. Commercial interests. Community network. Hmmm. I just don't see any of this being highly compatible.
Obsidian at least have the right idea when it comes to making money out of OpenSource software/systems, whilst still supporting the people that contribute to it. Working with school.za is a damned fine idea.
Interests best served: Free community networks - no commercial ventures, aside from perhaps donations.
sauermfj
17-03-2005, 10:21 PM
A few viewpoints from Philedelphia Net project.
http://www.philly.com/mld/philly/news/politics/11035754.htm
http://www.netstumbler.com/2005/02/02/municipal_wi_fi_networks_forgeddabout_it/
http://www.eweek.com/article2/0,1759,1759948,00.asp
http://www.netstumbler.com/2005/02/08/philidelphia_to_announce_wi_fi_expansion_plans/
http://www.eweek.com/article2/0,1759,1754164,00.asp
...and by the way, I truly do appreciate what you guys have achieved thus far and probably will in the future.