Google's WiFi in Mountain View sounds ho-hum

We hesitate to criticize anything that comes for free.

But the more we here about Google's plans for Mountain View WiFi service, which could launch within two months, the less compelling it sounds.

In the latest communication effort at a community meeting, Google says it will work outdoors, but to get coverage indoors you need buy a router to amplify the signal. And if we are outdoors using WiFi in sunny California, we'll probably want to sit in the shade under a tree. However, Google says tree, buildings and other physical impediments could weaken the signals.

It is early days, and there are lots of people at Google working on this, so we hope they get it right eventually.