FON Fonera 2.0n WiFi-N Sharing Router On Sale Now

WiFi-sharing enthusiasts FON have released their latest router, the Fonera 2.0n.  As the name suggests, the Fonera 2.0n packs 802.11n support, but they've also packed it with social networking integration, hard-drive sharing, Twitter status updates (for when someone connects to your router), BitTorrent downloading and webcam hosting.

With four ethernet ports the Fonera 2.0n can do the usual wired networking of local PCs, but there's also a USB 2.0 port for hooking up a printer, hard-drive or webcam (or a USB hub, from which multiple USB devices can be shared across the network).  You can set the Fonera 2.0n to automatically upload photos from a USB drive to Facebook, Flickr or Picasa, as well as set it to download BitTorrent files, MegaUpload files and RapidShare files; there's also a YouTube uploader.  All of these can be used when your PC or Mac is turned off, via the web-based UI.

Of course, the main point of choosing FON over other routers is that it means other FON users can access your connection, and you theirs, meaning less paying for WiFI hotspots when travelling.  You can even make a little money, as FON members without their own shared hotspots are charged for connecting.  The FON Fonera 2.0n is available in Europe and the US now, priced at €79 and $99 respectively.

Press Release:

FON Releases New Innovative Web Applications WiFi Router

World's largest WiFi community releases groundbreaking 802.11n WiFi router

that interacts directly with Web 2.0 services

MADRID and SAN FRANCISCO, Sept. 23 /PRNewswire/ — FON today released

its most innovative WiFi router yet, the Fonera 2.0n. Furthermore, it

announced that its international WiFi network, the world's largest,

surpassed 700,000 hotspots. Besides several new features, Fonera 2.0n

allows users to up and download files to their favorite Web 2.0 services

with their computer turned off. Fonera 2.0n is now available in the EU for

just euro 79 and in the US for just $99.

Fonera 2.0n combines all of FON's revolutionary WiFi sharing and money

making features with 802.11n wireless technology, delivering faster

connection speeds and more WiFi reach. Most importantly, it has a growing

host of features and applications that make it easy for users to manage Web

2.0 services such as YouTube, Facebook, Picasa, Flickr and RapidShare–even

while users' laptops are off. Fonera 2.0n can also automatically post

status messages to Twitter, alerting users to when an upload or download

has completed or to when another user has connected to their WiFi signal.

"As demand for WiFi and use of the social web continues to grow, FON

keeps creating WiFi products that give people what they really want," said

Martin Varsavsky, FON's CEO. "The Fonera 2.0n is not only a router that

lets you connect to the world's largest WiFi community for free. It's a

real social gadget that frees up you and your computer from tedious waiting

for uploads and downloads and even 'talks' to you via Twitter status

updates."

A built-in USB port and Fonera 2.0n management software allow users to

connect and manage external hard drives and other USB devices. The Fonera

2.0n can be managed by accessing the Fonera web-interface from laptops,

computers and different kinds of WiFi devices including Apple iPhones or

Google Android based phones.

While logged in to the Fonera web-interface, users can instruct their

Fonera 2.0n to automatically upload videos or photos stored on a camera or

hard drive to YouTube, Flickr, Picasa and Facebook, or to download*

torrents and files directly to a USB hard drive. Then, because the Fonera

2.0n can also perform tasks independent of a computer, users are free to

log out and shut down their laptops completely – the Fonera 2.0n will

continue uploading and downloading any remaining files.

Additional features include the ability to backup files to a hard

drive, access a printer or webcam from anywhere, stream music via WiFi, and

convert a 3G or HSDPA dongle to WiFi. Users are also free to create

applications of their own on the Fonera 2.0n's Open Source platform.

Fonera 2.0n can also help users save money on energy and reduce their

CO2 output. A Fonera 2.0n router consumes less than four watts while

downloading, instead of a PC that averages 100 watts, so users can reduce

their CO2 emissions by 273Kg a year–equivalent to driving an SUV more than

1,500km per year. **

"The deep integration of online file sharing, social networks, and

other Web 2.0 content into our already busy daily lives translates into

more hours spent at the computer, greater energy use and more greenhouse

emissions," said Varsavsky. "By enabling users to handle basic computing

tasks from the router instead of the PC, we're taking a small step towards

reducing power consumption without limiting functionality."

Fonera 2.0n also maintains all the features of previous FON WiFi

routers. Once connected, it creates two separate WiFi signals, one private

and one public, that allow for a secure, wireless internet connection at

home and free access at FON Spots worldwide. Fonera owners can also choose

to make money*** by selling FON WiFi access passes or letting guests

securely roam at their FON Spot.

For further information about the Fonera 2.0n, visit http://www.fon.com

*FON does not promote illegal activities or otherwise violate any

applicable laws or intellectual property rights. Disclaimer: you should not

download copyrighted material unless you have permission from the copyright

holder to do so.

**Calculations based on data from 2009 PC Energy Report.

***Money making functionality not available in all countries.

About FON:

FON started the free WiFi revolution in 2006 with the first Fonera WiFi

router and the goal of free, ubiquitous WiFi for everyone. Today, FON has

more than 700.000 WiFi hotspots and over 1.7 million registered members.

FON also has a growing list of Telco partners including British Telecom,

SFR Neuf, ZON Portugal, and Comstar Russia who add FON functionality to

their broadband routers so that their customers can benefit from the FON

community, thereby enhancing their product offering. Google, eBay, British

Telecom, Index Ventures, Coral Group and Sequoia Capital are investors in

FON. For more information about FON, visit http://www.fon.com

FON, the FON logo, and Fonera are trademarks of FON. Other company and

product names may be trademarks of their respective owners.