Cablevision's Public Optimum WiFi Network: A Big Trojan Horse?

Cablevision has extended its public Optimum WiFi network from New York to New Jersey. Is this initiative really about free public WiFi access for Cablevision’s existing customer base? Or does the service provider have a hidden agenda? The VAR Guy stumbled onto the apparent answer — involving VoIP and perhaps even the Newsday newspaper — during a sporting event on Long Island.

While rubbing shoulders with a few Cablevision insiders, our resident blogger started to hear about the service provider’s bigger, hidden public WiFi strategy: As Optimum WiFi gains a critical mass of mobile laptop, smart phone and mobile Internet device (MID) users, Cablevision plans to explore wireless voice-over-IP (VoIP) for the mobile masses.

Dialing Up the Competition

Ultimately, the Cablevision insiders say, the company is hatching a plan to position the Optimum WiFi network against cellular voice services. The tipping point will come as so-called dual-mode phones, which support cellular and WiFi services, shift to the mainstream.

Oh, and that’s not all: Cablevision owns Newsday, Long Island’s largest daily newspaper and one of the largest newspapers in the country. Cablevision somehow plans to charge for Newsday’s content, ending free Web content from the newspaper. One company insider says the strategy could be tied to Cablevision’s Optimum Online service.

Subscribe to that service, the source says, any you’ll potentially receive some Newsday content perks.

Hmmm. The VAR Guy must concede: He hasn’t spoken with Cablevision for an “official” comment about the speculation above. But the VoIP WiFi item comes from multiple sources in the know.

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