Wireless broadband service provider Ricochet just re-launched consumer service in San Diego, increasing the total number of urban areas covered by the service to three (the others are Dallas and Denver). They're offering a free modem incentive to new subscribers, and re-subscribers get a free month's service… but that $44/month fee seems insanely steep now, given the many other options that now exist for bandwidth-hungry wireless nomads. They ruled, back in the day, with 51,000 subscribers in 21 markets at their peak. I was once a very happy customer, and went into an extended depression when the little green light on my Ricochet modem stopped smiling back at me. The service went under in August, 2001 when previous owner Metricom BK'd. Their tech assets were acquired by Aerie Networks later that year.
The new service, once consumer-driven, has expanded its footprint to include public safety networks and municipal applications. For nearly a year, Ricochet has been testing its wireless mesh network service with the city's Denver Advanced Wireless Network for emergency and disaster preparedness. Ricochet's return to San Diego is due in part to a lease agreement with the city of San Diego to provide wireless access to city-run departments in exchange for city rights of way.(…)
Ricochet boasts speeds of up to 176 kbps, which according to the spokesperson are Ricochet's actually speeds, not its "burst" speed, which is what many DSL providers and wireless carriers use to lure in consumers.
"Any wireless technology has the capability to "burst," but that's not your average speed," said the spokesperson.
Ricochet's burst speeds are up to 400 kbps, the spokesperson said.
UPDATE: In response to a question I e-mailed about LA rollout plans, a spokesperson for Ricochet's San Diego reseller Nethere.com says: "LA is high on the list…no dates yet but it will be at least a few months. You can expect however, that before long it will be back in full swing everywhere it was before…and then some."
