What does these two company feature above have in common? Together (or may be even alone with a lesser chance), they can drastically change the macro statistics on how many people is connected to the net today!

Meraki is a startup coming from MIT’s corridors, which is pushing its $49 WiFi router mesh devices to expand the coverage of WiFi networks. Let’s visualize it: You live in a 5-block compound. With technology available today, all residents should buy a WiFi modem & router (around 150$ for a quality-one) along with a singular subscription plan (around 30$/month). If there are 100 apartments, it will cost 51K$ for that compound to have full access over internet. Meraki claims to change the way we connect: The administrator of the compound (or of each block) have a physical internet access via modem, and the other members of the apartment just plugs in the Meraki WiFi router to extend the coverage. With this way, a great broadband subscription plan can be extended toward every member of the community, with reduced cost. The good part is, administrator can reach the settings of the network via a web-hosted interface, to put limits for each connection, or make it compulsory to pay for it before gaining access. Meraki says this will bring internet for the low-income population and developing world, with the claim of “providing free of affordable access to the next billion of people.”

*  It is noteworthy to state that Google has recently invested in Meraki with 1$M. VentureBeat’s story here.
Whisher looks at the problem from a software perspective, and bases its potential on the assumption of collaborative community. Its software opens up your personal WiFi coverage to other Whisher software users, and you hope to find the same hospitality when you are out of your home or office. Of course, as the owner of the connection in your office or network, you have the privilege to limit the speed and decide who connects and who does not. On top, you have the chance to IM with other connected people, all from the interface of Whisher software.

I believe, both of these companies will have a significant impact on how people treat and connect to internet. For further reading, I suggest to read: VentureBeat’s story on Meraki , GigaOM on Meraki , GigaOM on Whisher , VentureBeat on Whisher .

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