Google is working with Ruckus Wireless on ‘Wi-Fi in the cloud’

In its plans to set up Wi-Fi hotspots together with companies, Google would partner with Ruckus Wireless, a manufacturer of wireless networking equipment. In addition, Google would like to make the necessary management software cloud-based.

On Thursday, rumors surfaced that Google plans to provide small and medium-sized businesses with hardware and software for building public hotspots at significant discounts. A Google user could access a Wi-Fi hotspot using just their account. Google would thus gain more insight into the surfing behavior of its users. Part of this data could also be requested from the participating companies.

According to GigaOM, Google is working with hardware manufacturer Ruckus Wireless for this. Presumably, this company will supply the Wi-Fi equipment for setting up hotspots. In addition, the companies would like to run the management software for the WiFi hotspots in the cloud, so that management can be performed centrally and in theory hundreds of thousands of hotspots can be set up. The Wi-Fi service should eventually grow into a large virtual Wi-Fi network with potentially millions of nodes that only require a one-time login.

Google’s Wi-Fi hotspots would be free to use, but participating companies are responsible for the necessary bandwidth and the purchase of compatible Wi-Fi equipment. The hotspots would use Hotspots 2.0 technology, also known as 802.11u, which should make it easier to roam between different Wi-Fi networks as well as between Wi-Fi hotspots and 3G and 4G mobile networks.