With the insane number of free hotspots popping up everywhere, you're bound to ask yourself, "Why pay for something when you can get it for free?"
Quite a few journalists are asking the same question. There was a
story in the NYT (free sub req) the other day, which is part of a trend of news stories popping up looking at free wifi as an attractive business lure. See also
this piece in Computer World and
this one from the Monterey Herald. It's the typical wifi-lure game: Get 'em in the seats and they'll linger and eat or drink while they work or play.
You don't have to look hard for free hotspots either.
Free Wi-Fi Hotspots is one of a few sites that is cataloging them. They also have a companion blog (of
course!) called
Free Wi-Fi News which gives you the score on daily trends in the wild world of freebie wifi.
But the question, that's really only adequately addressed in the NYT piece is really, "What will this do to the carrier market?" Companies seem to be hedging their bets on an incredible need in unserviceable areas like airports, where free wifi won't tread. And their aiming their sites at people who
really need to send that document
right now!
Seems like a thin slice? Time will probably tell.