Logan replies to Sideguide query
Posted by Russell Senior on 26 September 2007Here is what Logan Kleier reports in reply to my query about the MSN Sideguide software:
MetroFi is not currently using this product, but is working with MSN on its rollout. They do not have a specific rollout date scheduled for Portland.
According to MSN and MetroFi, this product will not exclude non-MS operating systems. Non-MS operating systems will still be able to utilize the free ad banner network. This product is designed as more of a substitute for the current ad banners.
Given this information, MetroFi remains committed to fulfilling all of its privacy obligations under its contract with the City of Portland.
MSN Sideguide?
Posted by Russell Senior on 26 September 2007I happened to read about something this last weekend that had the potential to make MetroFi substantially less attractive and/or useful, particularly to people who do not use Microsoft operating systems. The link says, in part:
Codenamed Shadow, the main purpose of MSN Sideguide is to fund the free wifi networks that Microsoft is currently testing in Oakland and Portland with its ISP partner, MetroFi - the wifi connection will be dropped if Sideguide is not running.
There are two problems with this:
- Assuming Sideguide runs only on Microsoft operating systems, and if it is required as that quote seems to indicate, then a substantial fraction of laptops, including Apple and Linux based systems, out there won’t be able to use MetroFi-Free
- Even if Sideguide runs on non-Microsoft operating systems, this seems to require running some foreign software on your system, which introduces both security and privacy concerns that are not present in the current advertising system. The Sideguide software apparently monitors your surfing behavior as well as possibly what is on your system’s harddisk.
I have made a query to Logan Kleier, the City’s project manager about this, and he said he was looking into it. I managed to connect to MetroFi-Free today by parking near a SkyPilot while out running errands and saw no evidence that it had been deployed yet, but the link above clearly indicates that Portland is a target for this.