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64 Comments
- sjbdallas, on 02/16/2008, -7/+35I would almost rather it was more widespread and available for a small fee than have it in various pockets and free.
- prisoner24601, on 02/16/2008, -0/+16Think of WiFi like a drinking fountain or air-conditioning. You wouldn't say "I want air conditioning to be available for a small fee" because we've come to the point where consumers take it as a given. If your establishment doesn't have a restroom or heating or other "basic amenities" then you will go elsewhere. I think you are still viewing WiFi as an "extra" and the point of the article is that it is on it's way to becoming a fundamental. As it should, I definitely DO patronize certain establishments because of *FREE* WiFi and that's not because I'm at all reluctant to pay a little for the access. It's just a hassle to have an account or enter a credit card, etc. I really prefer places that offer it for free because I know I won't get hung up by their account/payment security interface (try asking the average barista how to authenticate...) or have to remember account passwords, etc.
Fee-based WiFi is a hassle, no matter how cheap. Now I patronize establishments that let me check my email during lunch/coffee/etc. That trend is only going to grow and the T-Mobiles of the world who dreamed of users with accounts using their "authorized" hotspots are living in a fantasy. No one pays for WiFi anymore. - Scopitone, on 02/16/2008, -0/+14FWD To: Starbucks.
- inactive, on 02/16/2008, -0/+12I will usually go out of my way to go to a place that has free wifi as opposed to one that makes me pay $3-$5 an hour just to use it.
- Brad324, on 02/16/2008, -7/+18Pretty soon we'll be able to surf for porn from anywhere.
- fsweep, on 02/16/2008, -1/+11It will need to be free everywhere before bandwidth becomes reasonable. There is nothing like connecting at sub-dial-up speeds on some free urban hotspot.
- dagamer34, on 02/16/2008, -0/+10Without a doubt, I am more likely to go to a venue that has free WiFi so I can use it on my laptop/iPhone. In fact, whenever I'm at the mall, I specifically LOOK for such spots. The Apple Store is always an excellent place for free WiFi.
- pjr12345, on 02/16/2008, -1/+10Starbucks has a deal with T-Mobile to charge for Wi-Fi access. Add that to the expensive, single-serving coffee, and CostCo quality pastries, and it's no wonder I spend my mornings at Panera Bread Company!
- samard2002, on 02/16/2008, -0/+7No offense, but I don't think I would read a tech blog whose author does not understand the potential implications of letting everyone and anyone use your business wireless network and internet connection.
- FeartheKnighted, on 02/16/2008, -1/+8I want it to be free too.
- Rice, on 02/16/2008, -0/+7I see what you did there.
- ictharus, on 02/16/2008, -0/+6I'm glad -- I think it's ridiculous that anyone would expect us to pay for a month's Internet access for less than a day of access.
- starkruzr, on 02/16/2008, -0/+5It'd be nice if it was "2 hours per grande drink purchased" or something like that.
- ttfadia, on 02/16/2008, -0/+5From: bigguy@starbucks.com
http://www.digg.com/tech_news/Starbucks_Announces_ ... - iofthestorm, on 02/16/2008, -0/+4Damnit, stupid newzman!! I hate when it does double spams!!
- dxgg, on 02/16/2008, -0/+4Anybody else think of the Queen song "I Want To Break Free" ?
- richardtallent, on 02/16/2008, -1/+5When you walk into an average restaurant, at least here in the southern US, you get:
- free lighting
- free restrooms
- free crayons and paper for the rug rats
- free chips and salsa
- free drink refills
Free wifi is just another commodity utility. Charging for it is like charging for restroom access--it's common in some places, but doesn't engender customer loyalty. - FleetAdmiral, on 02/16/2008, -1/+5Brad, you have a typo, I'm sure you meant EVERYwhere
- Kevin108, on 02/16/2008, -0/+4Nothing is free, stupid. More like, "Wi-fi costs want to be embedded into the price of other items."
- aramova, on 02/16/2008, -1/+5This is true. So many times you'll get on an open wifi at a restaurant only to find that it's almost unusable and times out on virtually every page you goto.
Internet service I pay for is one thing, but I don't goto wifi to torrent. I'd be in favor of free wifi points pulling a comcast just so the service didn't suck so badly. - windohs, on 02/16/2008, -0/+3panera is the starbucks of food without the markup
- RedGreen1, on 02/16/2008, -0/+3It is still limited and has its restrictions. Not my definition of free (at least in these terms).
- timesheetsrule, on 02/16/2008, -0/+3waaaaaaait a minute
i never got a toaster......
F***ing National City - edwartica, on 02/16/2008, -0/+3So what if Starbucks want to give us a free two hours (by jumping through hoops no less). I can just walk to a cafe with better coffee who doesn't care how long you use their wifi! Oh, and they're open later too.
- jessehadden, on 02/16/2008, -0/+2What bar are you going to? I think they might be pulling one on you...
- BryanJK, on 02/17/2008, -0/+2you mean like you can with magazines? yay!
- dt40, on 02/16/2008, -0/+2A better solution that is free (at the margin) and more widely available is to use a Windows Modile phone like the Samsung Blackjack as a modem on a 3G network in conjunction with an unlimited data plan.
This has bandwidth approaching broadband, no security issues, MUCH broader availability than WiFi since it works nearly everywhere there is a cell signal, no hassles with WiFi accounts or payments.
Once I figured out how to do this about six months ago, I have never needed public WiFi. - IphtashuFitz, on 02/16/2008, -1/+2On a recent vacation through Australia we took a week or so to drive from Sydney up to Brisbane. I was very impressed with the amount of free wifi I encountered along the way. Many motels/hotels seemed to have it, as did some of the larger towns that we drove through. No surprise that a country like that is doing better in providing a free service like wifi than the US is... Just another example of Aussie hospitality!
- consciousman, on 02/23/2009, -0/+1by the way do you all know you can get free Wi-fi at any Library
- CaptainHarlock, on 02/17/2008, -0/+1Free wireless is nice, but where does the money come from to pay for maintenance? If the wireless is pulling in more customers then you can use the profits made from the sales of your standard product. If not then your profits drop because you're putting money into wireless maintenance. The more people using wireless the more likely some type of failure will occur.
- Assezdefromage, on 02/17/2008, -1/+2This is great as long as you have a phone and your phone has power. But for the rest of us free wifi is definitely a more suitable option.
- AKman24, on 02/16/2008, -1/+2Sure its free, but your burgers are still $10
- raluca74, on 02/16/2008, -1/+2I really like the idea. But I hope to be really free and not full of popup ads on my noteook screen.
- windohs, on 02/16/2008, -1/+2@ above
buried as lame - inactive, on 02/16/2008, -2/+3You can easily secure your network AND share it safely
- oenoneablaze, on 02/16/2008, -0/+1when you read the part about access in exchange for viewing advertisements, did anyone else think about netzero / juno / all those other free dialup offers? That didn't last long (but this /could/ be different).
- loconet, on 02/16/2008, -0/+1I wouldn't mind to pay for wifi. I dream of the day when wifi has the same coverage as regular the regular cellphone network. Where there is no need for two systems but rather just data. You want voice? go voip. That of course will take a lot of infrastructure changes, politics, and businesses would need adapt and stop trying to eat the whole cake.
- voyvf, on 02/17/2008, -0/+1That, or they drink really crappy beer.
- consciousman, on 02/23/2009, -0/+1I already have a wireless air card from sprint. I can use it inside and outside my home...
I'm wandering if I can get Wi-fi in my home, that way i can get rid of my air card - stalky14, on 02/17/2008, -0/+1Then stop going to Fuddruckers!
- phredwolf, on 02/17/2008, -0/+1Free WiFi has to support itself to be sustainable - http://www.silverliningnetworks.com/
- dt40, on 02/17/2008, -0/+1Bluetooth is one option, but yes that does require that the phone has enough power.
What I typically do is carry the small USB cable that allows the phone both to charge and to serve as a modem. It really works great, and carrying the small cable is MUCH less easier than dealing with the uncertainty, hassles and poor coverage of WiFi. - kaytrio, on 02/17/2008, -0/+1Very true, but right now, a lot of places (starbucks) heavily overcharge for it... so embedding the cost would be much cheaper than paying 20 bucks a month for 1 hr of wifi a day
- redgrl, on 02/17/2008, -0/+1we can only hope and pray .... "dear God let it be soon!"
- bdbr, on 02/17/2008, -0/+1I almost buried this because I hate statements about some inanimate object "wanting to be free". I should have buried it because its old news.
But I'm not burying it because its going to increasingly become the expectation anywhere people are expected to linger. There's a ton of development in mobile internet devices (not to mention some early products), and more and more people will want to pass the time browsing the 'net. - inactive, on 02/23/2008, -0/+1this is the future...yes...
- BryanJK, on 02/17/2008, -0/+1and most of my wifi devices don't have bluetooth, except for my laptop :(
- Atomic1fire, on 02/17/2008, -0/+1I wouldnt mind if they were funny picture (something to laugh at while your surfing) ads and not flash
- inactive, on 02/16/2008, -0/+0awesome, at the current state, I'm sometimes glad I have edge... regardless of speeds.
- elyobelyob, on 02/18/2008, -0/+0I think you'll find that Starbucks just dropped T-Mobile in favour of AT&T ... free wi-fi coming your way. The coffee is still crap though.
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