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Fon

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Fon was founded in 2006 by CEO, entrepreneur and internet pioneer Martin Varsavsky with the goal of blanketing the world with WiFi that is free for everyone.

With nearly 5 million hotspots around the globe, Fon is the largest WiFi network in the world.

Fon is backed by world renowned investors, including Atomico, British Telecom, the Coral Group, Google, Index Ventures, Sequoia Capital and Skype.

The company partners with top telcos from around the world including: BT (UK), Zon (Portugal), Belgacom (Belgium), Oi (Brazil), SFR (France) and SoftBank (Japan).

At Fon’s core is its patented technology that makes it possible to broadcast two powerful, dedicated WiFi signals from a single broadband internet source. One signal is encrypted and private. The other signal is public but only accessible via password to registered users. Mobile operators bundle Fon WiFi devices together with smartphones or tablets. Fixed operators build Fon’s technology directly into their own routers so their customers get broadband and Fon access all in one device.

Milestones

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• 
  Fon added Teo Ruiz as VP of Technology || First employee. (10/7/05)
  Posted 6/14/11 at 11:57pm
• 
  Fon added Anil Hansjee as Board Observer. (10/1/06)
  Posted 5/28/11 at 11:07am
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  Fon added Marko Ahtisaari as Advisor.
  Posted 10/21/09 at 12:18pm
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  Fon added Alberto Naranjo Galet as Tech Advisor.
  Posted 6/21/09 at 8:54am
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  Fon added Jordi Vallejo as CTO.
  Posted 9/30/08 at 6:55pm
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  Fon added Yi Kai as Manager, Taiwan Operations.
  Posted 3/11/08 at 11:22am
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  Fon added Yat Siu as Manager, China Operations.
  Posted 3/11/08 at 11:22am
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  Fon added Stefano Vitta as Manager, Italy Operations.
  Posted 3/11/08 at 11:22am
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  Fon added Ola Ahlvarsson as Manager, Sweeden Operations.
  Posted 3/11/08 at 11:22am
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  Fon added Jean Bernard Magescas as Manager, France Operations .
  Posted 3/11/08 at 11:22am
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  Fon added Alexander Puregger as FON Asia Regional Manager.
  Posted 3/11/08 at 11:22am
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  Fon added Robert Lang as European Business Development Lead.
  Posted 3/11/08 at 11:22am
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  Fon added Joi Ito as Investor via Digital Garage.
  Posted 2/6/08 at 6:45pm
• 
  Fon added Ethan Zuckerman as Board.
  Posted 10/4/07 at 2:38am
• 
  Fon added David Weinberger as Board.
  Posted 10/4/07 at 2:38am
• 
  Fon added Wendy Seltzer as Board.
  Posted 10/4/07 at 2:36am

Videos

Screenshots

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Products

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FON

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Website	fon.com
Tags	wifi

Above: FON Screenshot -- #1
Uploaded: 2/5/08

Twitxr

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Website	twitxr.com
Stage	Live
Launch Date	February 1, 2008

Twitxr is a Twitter-like service, launched by FON Labs in February 2008, that allows the user to post a brief text message and photo. They’ve also created software which allows direct posting from the iPhone.

Above: Sample user page
Uploaded: 2/17/08

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Compete

Sources

1. LightReading (lightreading.com) [edit]
2. Founder's Blog (english.martinvarsavsky.net) [edit]
3. Citation Needed [add]
4. Fon raises $13.5 million in funding round led by Atomico to put the US in its sights (eu.techcrunch.com) [edit]
5. Fon Ended 2010 With 3.35 Million WiFi Hotspots, €28 Million In Revenues (techcrunch.com) [edit]