Wi-Fi Planet's Eric Griffith reports on the announcement of a new solar-powered outdoor Wi-Fi repeater from Meraki Networks, the San Francisco-based company that offers the $49 Meraki Mini access point.

The biggest potential stumbling block for the new product is price -- while the outdoor repeater itself will only cost $99, adding solar power to it could bring the price as high as $500. Still, Griffith writes, "in some areas, like a rural town or rooftop, it's still cheaper than running a power line."

As Engadget's Donald Melanson puts it, "Solar-powered Wi-Fi isn't exactly anything new, but upstart Meraki looks to be doing its best to make it more accessible to the general public."

More here from The Next Net ... more here from Wi-Fi Networking News ... more here from UPI ... more here from GigaOM ... and Meraki's press release is here.