[wplug] Wi-Fi Mapping in the Press

[Brent M. Rust]

Free WiFi versus Pay WiFi
Summary:
Is there a risk YES, are there benefits YES. Most will say Benefits
outweigh Risks, therefore FREE WiFi.

The business model of free WiFi versus pay wifi has been gaining ground
(see links below). The argument of overhead cost doesn't fly when you
compare it to businesses providing toilets, heating and cooling and
water fountains or even cheap milk and eggs (as loss leaders). WiFi is
quickly becoming a commodity, therefore customers will expect it just
like lights, and air conditioning or a big heater at the door during
winter.

I have spoken to a business owner who provides free Wi Fi and he said it
brings in people. Not as many as he would like but it still brings them
in. I have also spoken to a business owner that doesn't think Wi Fi is a
good option. This 2nd biz owner has an ice cream store on a MAJOR road,
that is only open 6 months out of the year. They have a nice meeting
room too in which they are indirectly competing with the local library.
They charge for the meeting room and don't offer internet access. His
building is empty. The library has meetings at least twice a month (and
free Internet access). Plus, early last year, the ice cream store owner
had the option of the local ISP giving him FREE broadband for two
months, free support and free installation etc. so the ISP could test
run the free wifi option. They just wanted to see if it would bring in
more customers to HIS business. He didn't want to do it. Talk about
bassackwards thinking.

On the other hand...how many of us go into a business just to use the
restroom or cool off in the heat of the day or even use an entrance to
duck out of the rain. I see very little difference.

It's funny to hear someone in a Linux group say that FREE anything is a
bad idea. 
Maybe it's the people that steal the bandwidth that are the problem, not
that free bandwidth is available. IMO

~B

Free WiFi articles. (Don't forget all the  links within the articles)

http://www.computerworld.com/printthis/2003/0,4814,86149,00.html "Wooley
(of Schlotzsky's Delis) says he figures that the free Wi-Fi results in
an additional 15,000 visits per restaurant per year by customers who
spend an average of $7 per visit.
http://www.wi-fiplanet.com/columns/article.php/3097961
http://www.techweb.com/wire/26803617
http://www.wired.com/news/business/0,1367,63732,00.html?tw=wn_tophead_2
http://www.muniwireless.com/archives/000141.html
http://www.wi-fiplanet.com/columns/article.php/1004981
http://www.bizjournals.com/portland/stories/2004/06/07/story7.html?jst=s
_rs_hl
http://arstechnica.com/news/posts/1086717581.html