Cingular Wireless L.L.C. said it has asked the city of San Francisco to consider its wireless EDGE network as a complement to San Francisco’s Wi-Fi network but said it does not plan to provide the city with a Wi-Fi network.
Cingular pointed out that while it has not submitted a proposal to the city, it has suggested that the city consider the capabilities of Cingular’s wide area wireless network as it plans for its Wi-Fi network development.
Cingular, the nation’s largest carrier, has a well-established EDGE network in the Bay Area.
John Kampfe, spokesman for Cingular, added that depending on how the city’s network is set up, seamless mobility is possible between the city’s Wi-Fi hot spots and Cingular’s EDGE network. Kampfe said it’s not clear whether Cingular’s San Francisco suggestions would provide access only for its subscribers, or if the carrier would open its network for city government employees, or even for the masses.
Earlier this week, Google Inc. and other companies submitted proposals for the city’s planned Wi-Fi project.
