Friday, May 25, 2007

Alternative to Fon..... Tomizone!

This is Leo again.

iseeinet is recently busy, so I will post some for him :)

Fon is a great idea, but what happens if you want to join a WIFI community, but do not wish to purchase the La Fonera for a specific reason, especially with regards to the operating temperature?

In such instance, you'll join the Tomizone! Tomizone is a startup from New Zealand with the likes of Fon's idea. However, you get to use your exisiting wireless routers. Models currently supported are the Linksys WRT54G/L and from D-Link, the DI524UP. Support for other models are in the way.

Today, I will showcase the DI524UP as a demo for the Tomizone network.
Has anyone noticed the additional features yet, not present in the La Fonera? Yes, the 4 additional LAN port desired and the USB Print Server function.
Unlike the La Fonera being unfriendly to home user by removing the LAN port off, Tomizone's approach of using their firmware on the exisitng products off common models from well known brand allows practically many users up on their board sharing internet. On top of which, Tomizone is not exclusively just about WIFI. Businessman could, on other hand provide internet connection through the router's LAN port as shown in the DI524UP's Web Interface. This will allow a cafe or backpacker/motel to be powered with a Pay-to-Use mode, where wireless signal might be weak for the wide areas to cover. Well thought of.

As of current, there are not that many members up aboard the Tomizone network, however this changes when you and I as well as many all around the globe started to participate for the Free Internet everywhere idea.

The DI524UP is currently for sale at roughly SGD70 only. Coupled with Unrestricted Lifetime Warranty, 4 LAN ports as well as USB print server against that of the La Fonera and the much pricier Linksys, this unit is a steal!

Leo

1 comment:

TV3 Sunrise Gadget Guy :: said...

Hi Leo - thanks for the post. Just one thing you may want to know is that the new D-Link DIR-300 is also available and enhanced!
This unit has dual SSID which means that you can also run your own private network too (like the FON one).
You need to know that right now, over 900 hotspots are live on the network and growing daily (since the product was available 12 weeks ago).

Steve Simms
CEO
Tomizone
www.tomizone.com