I went to "Fon · Japan" of the wireless LAN community project

"FON" who wants to be able to connect to the Internet from everywhere in the world by sharing the wireless LAN with everyone, "that Japanese corporation"Phone · JapanI went to the interview to the interview.

Since the fact that the cheap wireless LAN router is profitable or whether there is plans to put out a new model, we heard about the place you care about what kind of workplace environment you work in relation to the router itself.
Talking about the story is Tomoyasuke Chikawa, chairman (Chief Strategy Officer) of Fong Japan Co., Ltd., and Nina Nicky, COO (Chief Operating Officer).

◆ Present and Future of Wireless LAN Router "La Fonera"

GIGAZINE (hereinafter abbreviated as G):
I will ask about "La Fonera" of the wireless LAN router though it is immediately. I think that the one currently being sold is 1980 yen per person and it is cheapness of disqualification, but is it profitable only with the main body?

Chikawahara (hereinafter abbreviated as a thousand):
The main body is produced in Taiwan, and Tenton is about profitability.

G:
On April 14th this year I am talking about 10,000 access pointsCampaign to distribute routers for freeI was doing, how many users increased?

thousand:
Router sales were 9,500 units.

G:
So, is that if it were all registered, it nearly doubled?

thousand:
Yes, it does. Currently, there are 14,468 access points in the country. I think that we can not simply compare, but for reference, I think that it is the number one access point in Japan with a single brand when compared with public wireless LAN service.

You can know the location of FON's access pointFON map. Point where green spot can connect.


G:
Is there a possibility that FON will partner with other public wireless LAN services, etc?

thousand:
Because FON is often in residential areas, the possibility of roaming that will be available in attracting spaces such as stations and public facilities can be considered as improving convenience for users. However, we are not thinking about roaming now as soon as possible. If you are roaming in such a way that users of the FON community are pleased, I would like to offer it.

G:
Is there a possibility that a new "La Fonera" such as IEEE802.11n correspondence of a new radio system will come out?

thousand:
There is nothing decided at the moment, but I think there is a possibility.

G:
On the contrary, are you thinking about distribution of firmware that makes existing routers "La Fonera"?

thousand:
There is nothing we have decided about this at the moment, but I think there is a possibility.

◆ New User Service

G:
If it is a service of FON in Japan, it is now possible to use free access points for other people by releasing their access point free of chargeLinusHowever, it is possible to use other users' access points for a fee without releasing their access point like overseas FON "Alien (alien)Do you have any plans to start recruiting?

thousand:
It is due to start within the year.

G:
Is that so. When "Alien (alien)" starts, what kind of feels do you pay for the billing method?

thousand:
I am still under consideration, but I think that it will be a credit card payment at the start. From that point I would like to extend variations in a way that suits Japanese users.

G:
I see. On the contrary, how can I pay for the user who provided the access point?

thousand:
Overseas, it is supposed to send money to PayPal of the settlement service using the Internet now, but it is still under consideration whether to use PayPal as it is in Japan or a different form.

G:
FON is an open access point, but what do you think about the security aspect when you start "Alien"?

thousand:
I think that security risks are not just chasing from the evidence that they remain on the network. Of course, traces of crime are also left on the network, but if, for example, "Alien" criminalizes using the access point of "Linus", "Alien" at that time The record that there was access as is left in the server of Spain. Then, there are plenty of fragments of information to identify the criminal, such as being the person who was within about 50 meters of the access point.

◆ Work at Phong Japan

G:
What is the relationship between Spanish head home FON and von Japan?

thousand:
Because von Japan is a subsidiary of 100% capital of Phon Wireless Limited which is the head office, it is the alter ego of the headquarters. To realize the intention of the head office in Japan. It is such an organization.

G:
How did you decide to work with von Japan?

thousand:
In my case I met him (laugh). There is encounter with the person who introduced FON business, and it will arrive now. I wanted to promote what I did not exist in the history of the Internet at Phong Japan and I got a chance to join the company.

G:
What is the average schedule of the day?

thousand:
I agree. I started working from 10 o'clock in the morning, as long as my physical strength continues (laugh).

Nina (hereinafter abbreviated as "n"):
If there is operation with Spain headquarters, the other side will be Japan time and one day will start around 17 o'clock in the evening, so it may be late at night to finish.

thousand:
I may work until 23 o'clock and 24 o'clock. Recently it has calmed down, but at the beginning of service last December it never ended before 24 o'clock.

Phone Looking at work inside the company.


G:
How is lunch, dinner, snack at rest?

D
In my case, there are many convenience stores. When you go out, there are times when you are out at 14 o'clock. Every evening we come and buy oysters etc. appropriately and eat it.

G:
Do you boast that you are "only at this place" on working at Phon Japan?

D
Members full of personality are gathered, but team work is very good. Everyone from the background to the personality is different and unique, but I feel like they fit together, they are very compatible.

G:
Is that a workplace that has been a warm atmosphere?

thousand:
I agree. I am not proud of its hardware and software aspects, but everyone shares a romance that promotes what I have not seen in the history of the Internet. There is a sense of throbbing to express new concepts to society. People who like such thrills are gathering, why (laugh).

G:
Oh, I understand. There is a sense of uplifting when creating new and interesting things.

thousand:
Yes. On the net there is a new movement that shares various things such as knowledge and contents. In the meantime, the members have a passion to advance things like sharing economy to share the infrastructure to make the world convenient.

G:
Are there any episodes or legendary episodes that have struggled at work?

thousand:
Every day is hard work. It is a joke (laugh). Because FON is a global company from Spain, naturally, whatever you do, culture, customs and customs are different from Japan, and the law is also different. Even Spain and Japan's Internet infrastructure are different, and the sense of speed to launch a business is different. Internet is also not as free as the world is supposed to be like in general, there are many things that are bound by existing laws. In such different circumstances, I may be bothered by how to adjust how the founder Martin thought the concept that I thought would be offered to the Japanese users in a satisfying way.

G:
I feel like I am approaching those who are interested in wireless LAN right now, are you thinking about getting familiar with it from now on?

thousand:
of course. In that case, support becomes more important, so we have to make people talented too.

◆ What FON aims for is Wi-Fi culture

G:
Is there anything that I think as future policy and development?

thousand:
First of all, FON 's FON' s point is that "individuals share access points", and that is exactly FON. The base is to strengthen the movement that individuals share infrastructure to the last. On that basis, considering the convenience of the user, it will be expanded to the store as well. In the future, I am planning to develop so that FON can be used at various stores such as shops that I dropped in and every morning shop. Selling a router is only one means, and FON's aim is to expand the culture of Wi - Fi.

G:
Indeed, is the Wi - Fi culture?

thousand:
Yeah, I think there are three points. First is that it is a free service, the other is a concept of "mutual aid" sharing, and finally penetration into the local community. We believe that these will become the core of the Wi - Fi culture. Now, when asked to the person who is a member of FON in advance, I feel charm in the place that "I can use the wireless LAN free of charge to do the Internet, and that is made up of each other's sharing" It seems to have gotten. We believe that this is a user-participatory project, and we must always think about future developments from the user's point of view.

G:
Thank you very much for your time today.