Google and Earthlink would Wi-Fi San Francisco city

Google Inc. and Internet service provider EarthLink Inc. have won a joint bid to provide free wireless access throughout the San Francisco city. The Department of Telecommunications and Information Services has confirmed that the city administration would begin contract negotiations with EarthLink and Google to create a widely available wireless broadband network across the city of San Francisco.

Google and Earthlink have managed to fend off competing bids from runner-up MetroFi and four other bidders. These two companies would be working along with wireless equipment suppliers Motorola Inc. and Tropos Networks to construct a mobile network for people living in the city.

The companies plan to financially support this free service through advertising. And Earthlink will offer services aimed at business users and to support local government activities. EarthLink in addition has also won a deal to build a municipal Wi-Fi network for the city of Philadelphia and Milpitas, California, in Silicon Valley.