[wplug] Wi-Fi Mapping in the Press

[gregsim at telerama.com]

I agree with Doug.  Successful businesses usually have a "loss leader" -
something they can give away free to draw in business.  Actually, extra
bandwidth is pretty cheap. 

My concern is security.  I helped a lady set up a wireless access point in her
new, small book store in Lebanon, PA.  Her regular IT guy was freaking out about
whether there should be encryption since people could sit in her parking lot and
steal bandwidth - the typing in a 128 bit key is a big hassle for a casual
customer.  I figure pirated connections would only be a problem if they stole so
much bandwidth, it denied the customers service.  Not likely.  But, it does
allow people into her network.  How much of a firewall should be build around
her business computer?  Is Microsoft's personal firewall enough?  

Greg

Quoting Doug Green <diego96 at mac.com>:

> This is not a good venue to discuss business principles or anything,  
> but I totally disagree. Many businesses actually encourage the "home  
> away from home" concept, trying to lure consumers to spend more time at 
> 
> their establishments. One successful example is Panera Bread. They have 
> 
> been expanding their franchise rapidly, and avidly promote the "sit and 
> 
> stay" mentality by offering cozy fireplaces, reading lamps, comfortable 
> 
> couches and free Wi-Fi. The idea is that if you spend more time, you'll 
> 
> buy more and develop patterned consumer behavior at that business.  
> Eventually, you'll buy something... and as long as this is true, the  
> free Wi-Fi map will continue to grow.
> 
> In a competitive business environment, free net access is a value added 
> 
> bonus to the consumer. While I'm not an expert on the costs of  
> bandwidth, I'd bet that the gain in business far outweighs the cost of 
> 
> operation. Either way, free wi-fi is a good thing and we all benefit!  
> :) Even established businesses that don't offer wi-fi for free will  
> begin to feel the competition heating up (ex: Starbucks vs. Panera at  
> locations on McKnight Road and in Oakland). In the meantime, I'm  
> keeping my eyes on the ever-expanding free wi-fi map!
> 
> -Doug
> 
> 
> 
> On Feb 18, 2005, at 1:56 PM, Michael P. O Connor wrote:
> 
> > I know why more places don't have free Wi-Fi, because it causes
> money,
> > and there are also probles with providing it.  If I owned a bussness
> I
> > would not have free Wi-Fi, ya it sounds great but what about the over
> > head cost, and how many people would come and not buy anything and
> just
> > leach off the free internet, removing the tables for paying
> costomers,
> > or lets say you have a coffee house, they come buy a coffee and sit
> > there for hours just surfing the web, bandwidth is not free, untill  
> > that
> > day Wi-Fi will not be free everywhere.
> >
> >>     Hi, all, wanted to mention that Pittsburgh's own WiFiMaps.com has
>  
> >> been
> >> in the press recently, creating maps for a couple of  newpapers.
> >>
> >>
> >> Why pay for Wi-Fi?
> >> http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/05038/453206.stm
> >>
> >>
> >> Seattle's packed with Wi-Fi spots
> >>
> > http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/businesstechnology/ 
> > 2002183464_wifimap18.html
> >>
> >> _______________________________________________
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> >> wplug at wplug.org
> >> http://www.wplug.org/mailman/listinfo/wplug
> >>
> >>
> >
> > -- 
> > Michael P. O'Connor
> > mpop at mikeoconnor.net
> > http://www.mikeoconnor.net
> >
> > _______________________________________________
> > wplug mailing list
> > wplug at wplug.org
> > http://www.wplug.org/mailman/listinfo/wplug
> >
> 
> 
> 
> 
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