Comments on: Wi-Fi offers huge opportunities, but here’s how companies could blow it

By: Keith R. Parsons

Keith R. Parsons — Thu, 21 Mar 2013 21:00:52 +0000

I’ve been saying for years Public Wi-Fi should be ‘Fast, Free, and Easy’ – think of it not as a money maker, but as something like public restrooms, it should be there as a minimum if you are in the business of dealing with the public.

There is always going to be frustration whenever you make it more difficult than it should be!

By: direct wireless media

direct wireless media — Fri, 15 Mar 2013 15:13:38 +0000

A good article but let’s avoid conflating Wi-Fi with Internet. They are not the same thing. Many of these location based, nearby services and marketing pages can be offered via Wi-Fi at venues that do not offer free (or paid) Internet connection to visitors.

By: Willy Nelson

Willy Nelson — Tue, 12 Mar 2013 10:16:09 +0000

Traveled in Summer to Boston from EU and my whole family was amazed at how much free effortless Wi-Fi in the city and suburbs. Example train into city had from AT&T free service. McDonalds, Dunkin Dounuts, local cafes ect ect. I admit Boston and the number of University and high-tech companies demand such service but from a well traveled user, I didnt have to search very far in the city to have Wi-Fi service for free.

By: Quinn

Quinn — Sun, 10 Mar 2013 20:08:33 +0000

You say it like open source means insecure.

By: cbir

cbir — Sun, 10 Mar 2013 18:19:57 +0000

Open wi-fi, open source android/linux os and unsecure network infrastructure…where is the security in this picture??

Ease of access is great but don’t know how much unwanted & untrusted traffic rides over internet everyday these days …. it may actually be more than useful traffic in %age terms…

Adding more network infrastucture for useful traffic is ok but how do we stem ever increasing unwanted & untrusted traffic? … open consumer networks could lead to much more growth in this type of traffic

By: Glenn Fleishman

Glenn Fleishman — Sun, 10 Mar 2013 03:34:04 +0000

“Up until fairly recently, Wi-Fi was about in-home PC connectivity”

As a reporter who has covered Wi-Fi obsessively from about 2001 to present, I find this statement laughable, even from someone who works at Cisco.

Wi-Fi has been widely used for connectivity since 2001 (relative to the number of equipped mobile/laptop users), and has expanded dramatically every year since. Cablevision has deployed countless thousands of Wi-Fi routers (from another vendor initially at least) across its service area. AT&T has over 20,000 hotspots (not just routers; some are entire conventions) in its native network since it purchased Wayport years ago.

You’re really talking about a seamless authentication network and experience with location-based services and user-tracking capability that will require a combination of additional infrastructure, back-end processes, and new apps or even operating system updates.

“The popularity of Groupon and other discount sites, however, confirms that if consumers crave anything it’s deals”: 2010 just instant messaged me and asked for its coupons back. You have been following the stock and value drop of Living Social, Groupon, and others, yes?

By: Mark

Mark — Sun, 10 Mar 2013 00:42:39 +0000

What an excellent article. As a consumer, I would thoroughly enjoy the wi-fi experience you are suggesting. I promise it would generate brand loyalty at my house and my friends would be told about the service provided by the business entity. Finally, someone who “gets” how the consumer mind works. Thank you, thank you!!