Google Fiber Draws Startups To Kansas City 123
Google's super fast internet has turned Kansas City into an unlikely incubator for startups and tech entrepreneurs. One small neighborhood where a group is working on their ideas has been dubbed, the "Silicon Prairie." From the article: "The advantage here for startups is simple: A fast Internet pipe makes it easier to handle large files and eliminates buffering problems that plague online video, live conferencing or other network-intensive tasks. Though the Kansas City location presents challenges for startups, including the ability to raise money outside the traditional Silicon Valley venture capital scene, entrepreneurs like Synthia Payne believe it's the place to be right now for up-and-coming tech companies. Payne is one of those entrepreneurs hoping to launch her startup dream — an Internet subscription service for musicians who want to collaborate online — on the cheap. She shares the State Line Road house, known as the 'Home for Hackers,' with other startups under a deal that allows them to live rent-free while they develop their business plans."
That's the whole point (Score:5, Interesting)
By making an example of Kansas City, the rest of the country will demand similar resources. The days of gouging the US public for Internet connectivity may soon be coming to an end.
Can you run a business server on this connection? (Score:5, Interesting)
I have been under the impression that Google prohibits business use of these connections. Including running servers. Can somebody confirm or deny this?
If they allow this, then it would be very tempting. A 1Gbps pipe costs a lot more, even at wholesale prices, from other vendors.
What will they do when Google pulls the plug? (Score:5, Interesting)
.
Those entrepreneurs will be stuck with zilch or with whatever new price structure is set by google or whomever follows them!
Re:That's the whole point (Score:5, Interesting)
Re:That's the whole point (Score:4, Interesting)
Google Fibre is an enabler. This is part of the reason I believe in government funded internet infrastructure, which is leased out to private entities. The format I would imagine is each company leasing would pay for a access to a frequency band, and would have their own hardware in the main hub, so that they aren't impacted by data usages of other competing companies.
This reduces the risk for the private entities, encourages competition and gets them to compete with better prices and services. The only people that this can be bad for is the monopolies, for everyone else a healthier market develops.
GF in KC (Score:5, Interesting)
There are two things about Google Fiber in Kansas City that are interesting to note:
1.) Kansas City (and the midwest) has a low cost of living, making the idea of boot strapping your own startup without lots of Venture Capital possible.
2.) Google Fiber isn't available to business at this time, which means that if you're not at a home address, you can't get it. I'm just not sure why that is, since one of the benefits of getting enough people intersted in the project in your neck of the woods means when it comes in, various NPO's such as the KC Public Library or Union Station will get a Google Fiber feed for free.
Re:That's the whole point (Score:2, Interesting)
As a consumer: I am already convinced that a) bandwidth is limitless and b) It should cost next to nothing.
I know how the bandwidth game works, in a broad sense, the consumer and businesses are being gouged horribly.