The Mac Observer

2006: The Year of Free Wi-Fi

December 22nd, 2005 at 2:00 PM - News by Jeff Gamet

The trend of free wireless Internet access in public places is growing, and thatis not likely to change any time soon, according to a MarkeWatch report. Free Wi-Fi access has turned out to be a boon in drawing customers in to local businesses, and municipalities are jumping on board, too.

JiWire tracks wireless Internet access points, and currently has over 100,000 hotspots from around the world in its database. In 2004, there were almost no free public hotspots listed, but in 2005, that number jumped up to 7,000.

Kevin McKenzie, JiWireis CEO, commented "Weive seen a huge increase in shops offering free Internet access as a way to get people in their doors."

Many local independent coffee shops already offer free wireless Internet access as a way to draw customers away from big chains like Starbucks, which offers T-Mobileis fee-based HotSpot service.

Some big name players are getting in on free Internet, too. Sandwich shops Panera Bread and Schlotzkyis Deli offer free service. Barnes & Noble and Fed Ex Kinkois are on the Starbucks side, offering fee-based services instead.

Mr. McKenzie sees more Wi-Fi-enabled devices coming out next year, too. Motorola is already selling Voice over Wi-Fi handsets, and other companies are likely to come to market with Wi-Fi phones and data devices soon.

He sees a very bright future for open and free wireless networks. "Wi-Fi is going to be ubiquitous."

  • Related Entries
  • Email This
  • Tweet This
  • Jeff Gamet on Twitter
Login. Need an account? Register here.



Auto-login on future visits

Show my name in the online users list

Forgot your password?


Commenting is not available in this section entry.
 

Recent Headlines - Updated November 10th

Tue, 8:16 AM
News - Apple Releases Security Update 2009-006 for Leopard, Snow Leopard
Mon, 7:20 PM
Rumor - Apple May Update iPod touch in December
6:45 PM
Product News - MacUpdate Desktop Updated to 5.0.1 with New Features, Bug Fixes
5:16 PM
Apple Releases Mac OS X 10.6.2 - Guest Account Bug Fixed, Much More
4:12 PM
Games - New For iPhone: Star Rangers, Air Force Supremacy, Blood Beach, More
2:51 PM
Apple Stock Watch - Radio Shack Jumps 14% on iPhone Deal, Apple Up 3%
2:25 PM
Games - EA Scoops Up Social Games Publisher Playfish
1:51 PM
Deal Brothers - Western Digital 1TB SATA Intellipower Hard Drive:  $84.99
10:58 AM
News - StarHub Signs Singapore iPhone Deal
10:36 AM
Hot Forum Topic - Reader Speculation: What’s in Apple’s Tablet?
10:08 AM
News - Apple Kicks Off New Credit Program
9:26 AM
News - Apple Launches Reserve and Pick Up Program
 

The Mac Observer Reader Specials

  • TypeStyler For Mac OS X is Now Shipping! Download The Free Fully Functional 60 Day Tryout at www.typestyler.com
  • RamJet Memory: Mac Pro 8-core 8GB Kit $199.99, 4GB Kits $109.99! Sale on MacBook and MacBook Pro 8GB kits $549.99! New MacBook DDR3 2GB for $49.99. iMac and Mac mini 4GB Kits for $79.99! 1TB SATA Hard Drives for $109.99! Click here
  • OWC: Mercury On-The-Go FW800+USB2 up to 1.0TB. Bus Powered, no external power supply needed. Macworld ‘Editor’s Choice’, CNET ‘Very Good’ Starting from $99.97, 500GB $159.99. Click here
  • Poker Mac If you're using a Mac, then you've gotta check out Full Tilt Poker for Mac. This Full Tilt Poker bonus code does the unthinkable, it actually rewards!
  • For the latest Apple products use Ciao, a price comparison website, to find laptops like MacBook Air. Then find the best prices on MP3 players and use our comparison tool to evaluate mobile phones like the Apple iPhone.

  • Laptop Hardware Provided by TechRestore - Overnight Mac & iPod Repairs.
  • Buy Stuff, Support TMO!
  • __________
  • Macworld Expo 2010 Hotel Deal
  • TMO on Twitter!

Apple Stock Quote

  • AAPL: $201.46. Change: 0.00.
  • (Prices delayed up to 20 minutes.)
  • Discuss in our Apple Finance Board

Hot Topics

TMO Express

Join the TMO Express Daily Newsletter to get the latest Mac headlines in your e-mail every weekday. Find out more!

Top Deals From DealBrothers.com

Recent Features