[wplug] Wi-Fi Mapping in the Press

[Michael P. O Connor]

I would say the cost is more then just bandwidth, it would be legel
costs, how will a bussness respond when the polic come asking questions
about the illegel activitys that has taken place on thier network. 
Right now the easiest way to track who did what is the Mac address, so
eather the company will have to track those by having the users register
(more cost) or should we have a national database of Mac address for all
wireless cards?  If I was a bussness I would not want to face those
costs.  Time, Resources, Money, and Human.

> 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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> >>
> >>
> >
> > -- 
> > 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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-- 
Michael P. O'Connor
mpop at mikeoconnor.net
http://www.mikeoconnor.net