Macdonalds think so. Nothing like competition in the enterprise to rev up adoption of a platform.  The retail business, especially ones that accent social aspects like restaurants and hotels, will have to adopt or perish IMO.
http://money.cnn.com/news/newsfeeds/articles/djf500/200710080338DOWJONESDJONLINE000052_FORTUNE5.htm

and perhaps Apple thinks so too. If it does it will nicely fit with iTouch sales and of course iPhones. Newspapers may become less important

http://media.guardian.co.uk/mediaguardian/story/0,,2185715,00.html

Just to copy/paste my posts from the breaking news thread:

All of the McDonald’s in Paris also have free WiFi which are operated by METEOR Networks, practically all of them were equipped from 2003 to 2004

Universal WiFi access has practically failed when you consider the efforts made by cities who’ve invested a lot of money with very little returns ( Link ), but I agree with SNIPUS that free WiFi access will be made ubiquitous by fastfood-restaurants/coffeeshops and alike, though I do not necessarily see it as an “iPhone driven phenomenon”...yet

Until now, free WiFi targets people wanting to use their laptop during their lunch/coffee-break, but with the rise of the iPhone generation (including Blackberries and other competitors), WiFi hotspots will celebrate their second youth

In less then 2 years time, when the current partnership with ATT has elapsed, I see Apple unlocking the iPhone and releasing a VOIP app for for it to work with the coming WIFI proliferation.

I also believe that Google & Apple will have a significant impact on the WIFI space 5 years out.

. . . . .  I wonder what kind of deal Apple really made with Cisco earlier this year ?

The monthly revenue, which today Apple extracts from the carriers, will be extracted from other service providers (including Google, and Apple’s own subscription services) in the future, once the carriers’ mobile bandwidth pricing power has gone. Apple delivers the platform the consumer wants; service providers will have to pay in some form to access those consumers. This depends partly on keeping the platform ahead of rivals, and closed to unsigned third part apps. The focus will be apps that can be significantly better native than as browser apps. Today we have: Google Maps, youtube, and the iTunes WiFI store. There will be many more.

In the longer term, local physical service providers will also be a major indirect revenue source. Watch Calamari again. How much might Pacific Catch restaurant pay to get that call?

I’m worried that they’ll start logging my MAC address in some strange attempt to report traffic to a paying advertiser. Universal WiFi is indeed appealing, but I agree that the likely mechanism will be businesses who already have a revenue stream, and are looking for people to linger a while. On the other hand, I was stopped at a petrol station waiting for my wife to grab some snacks, and they had WiFi. Who waits around after they finish fueling? How is WiFi a competitive advantage for (say) Macy’s? At least until there’s a widespread VoIP mobile handset?  Interesting topic.

Rezonate if you or your wife are spending an hour shopping at Macy’s it is nice to know that you can be alerted you have email if someone has to get through to you and you haven’t signed up for mobile phone service

Or if stores want to prove that they really do have competitive pricing with other stores, they may offer wifi so that shoppers can check pricing right there in the store, without leaving. Don’t let the customer leave, they may buy elsewhere.

Mixture

I’m not sure it’s an either/or proposition. Just as most roads in this country are funded by taxes and are therefore “free”, there are also many privately-funded toll roads. I believe the same will be so with WiFi.

I go to the mall as much to people-watch and hangout as I do to shop (more so, actually). Of the four malls in my area, one has “free” WiFi. Guess which one I go to.

WiFi is a marketing tool, and businesses who count on maintaining foot traffic and customer loyalty should budget for it in the same manner as they do other promotions.

So, I’m planning on meeting a friend. I have an iPhone (or a touch). We arrange to meet, but he’s often late. I’m trying to decide where to suggest as a venue.

One has free WiFi.

One doesn’t.

Guess which one I’ll suggest so I can grab a coffee and browse the web while I wait for him?

Companies that don’t get this are doomed. 10M iPod touches and millions of iPhones this holiday season are up for grabs: why would any venue be insane enough not to offer free WiFi and snatch these customers from the competition? Starbucks take note: charging people to use your WiFi is so last year. Wake up and smell the coffee, or I’m off to MacDonalds.

For a retailer to charge for WiFi is just stupid.  It’s analogous to charging for Air Conditioning.

I have a friend with a small coffee shop, he’s had a free hotspot to customers for a couple of years now.  It’s near a hotel, and when I go in there every morning there are on average 3-6 people with their laptops using his service.  It cost him very little to supply the service, it’s a no-brainer.

Figure $50.00 USD for a wireless router and $50.00 per month for high speed internet access, that’s most likely less than they would spend on cleaning the restrooms.  Sould definitely be free.  Charging for this is just ridiculous.

Updated info on WiFi connection in NYC subways

The Metropolitan Transit Authority here in New York City is supposed to have all the subway stations set up with free WiFi in the next few years.  At least that’s what they said they would start to do shortly.  It’s supposed to be subsidized entirely by ads or something.

Whether it actually takes place within five years is anyone’s guess.  I guess bunches of people will end up on the tracks because they were too busy surfing the ‘net instead of paying attention to who’s behind them.

It’ll sure be a change of pace from watching the multitude of rats scampering around the tracks.  However, it won’t take away the pungent scent of urine in the air.

UPDATE:

http://www.newsday.com/news/local/newyork/ny-nycell205382496sep20,0,4814145.story?track=rss

A company called Transit wireless has been awarded a contract to wire all 271 stations in New York City with WiFi and cellphone transmitters.  This particular setup will also eventually allow wiring of all subway tunnels to have a connection at all times.  Although this article said only the stations are going to be wired there are people on the project that would like to rush the tunnel wiring.  I believe this would become the largest WiFi hotspot in the United States.  I think there is going to be a severe strain on handset battery life after this project takes place.  I, for one, would probably surf the net the entire subway ride.  I enjoy doing that sort of thing.

On the lighter side, some people were thinking that the subways are going to be filled with people coming down into the subways just to use WiFi connections and that maybe they should start serving coffee and muffins as they do in Starbucks.

I can imagine people whipping out their fancy handsets or laptops every chance they can.  They’ll be great targets for roving muggers.

Barnes & Noble Bookstores

I have DSL service with AT&T and they offer free access at places such as our local Barnes & Noble that have AT&T wireless systems. There is a Starbucks inside the store and there is usually quite a few people sitting around using notebooks. A few doors down is a Panera Cafe store that offers free WiFi.

Free WIFI

As I drove across Texas last weekend, I noticed several of the state owned rest areas offer Wifi.  I’m assuming its free, but I’m not so sure as I didn’t stop.  These rest areas were on US 287 between DFW and the New Mexico border.

My car wash offers free wifi, so do several restaurants in the area.  I hope this trend continues, but I’m not sure it will.  I remember when convenience stores used to offer free car washes with a fill up and that free service bit the dust many years ago.

Re: Free WIFI

[quote author=“Dah-veed”]As I drove across Texas last weekend, I noticed several of the state owned rest areas offer Wifi.  I’m assuming its free, but I’m not so sure as I didn’t stop.  These rest areas were on US 287 between DFW and the New Mexico border.

My car wash offers free wifi, so do several restaurants in the area.  I hope this trend continues, but I’m not sure it will.  I remember when convenience stores used to offer free car washes with a fill up and that free service bit the dust many years ago.

NY State thruway rest stops have free WiFi.