As a Cupertino resident who tried hard to utilze the MetroFi solution, I can state that I gave up due to the difficulty of getting the solution to operate reliably.

In addition, their advertising banner delivery is obnoxious and seriously interfers with normal web browsing, retrieves new ads at random times and appears to consume significant bandwidth. My intent had been to verify system operation and then switch to their pay for use offering.

Wondering how metrofi is faring with their ad model..Their Cupertino/Santa Clara/SJ locations have been running for a while now on the ad model, so performance stats on those might be an interesting read.

Glenn, I remember a post from you a while back where you were optimistic about the free service + banner ad model..wanted to see if the stats would vindicate such a scenario

[Editor's note: MetroFi is privately held and notoriously close to the vest with numbers. The only way we may find out if their model works is: a. they file to sell stock to the public; b. their founders buy solid gold houses; c. they are acquired in a weird little deal in which the price isn't disclosed, and a lot of the company leaves or is laid off; d. they go bankrupt. --gf]