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08-13-2003 02:05 AM ET (US)
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Mr. Wireless
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08-13-2003 04:44 AM ET (US)
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Ah - what would BoingBoing be without WiFi hype? That article was like a breath of stale air...
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| Matthew Sturges
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08-13-2003 08:35 AM ET (US)
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Now if only they'd advertise it. I live within shouting distance of a Schlotzkys and am constantly bemoaning the fact that there's no free wi-fi in my area. Looks like I'll be eating a lot of circular sandwiches in the future...
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| craniac
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08-13-2003 10:25 AM ET (US)
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Mr. Wireless: You suck! You REALLY suck!
I'm typing this from a free wireless connection outside of a business park.
Did I mention that you really suck?
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| Joe Stalin
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08-13-2003 11:36 AM ET (US)
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Of course, Schlotzky's turns off their APs when they close. There are other free wifi spots in Austin that are always lit up--I ran into someone the other day who admitted to driving up to my favorite coffee shop (Flight Path) at 2 AM because her landline connection was down.
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| markH
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08-13-2003 12:20 PM ET (US)
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[quote]Buck's owner Jamis MacNiven, who serves buttermilk pancakes to some of Silicon Valley's top venture capitalists, has the perfect rap on the topic: "Charging for online usage would be like charging for salt and pepper."[/quote] To use an analogy that applies to more types of businesses than just eating establishments, charging for WiFi is like charging for air-conditioning. |
| eliotvb
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08-13-2003 02:29 PM ET (US)
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You know they charge 25 pfennig for a package of ketchup in Germany? What the hell's up with that?
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| Techblogger
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08-14-2003 12:42 AM ET (US)
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Thumbs Up for Schlotzkys. When I first heard about HotSpots, and Wi-Fi I thought it was going to be a FREE service provided by businesses (Restaurants, book stores, coffee shops, hotels,etc...) as an added value to attract customers. To my surprise it turned out to be a fee based service. Only time will show what is going to be the prevaling economically feasible trend.
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| craniac
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08-14-2003 10:13 AM ET (US)
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I remember complaining at a party once, about eight years ago, because there wasn't flat rate cellular available. Some guy argued with me that it was only right to charge per minute, because you pay only exactly for what you use. At the time I didn't have a mental list of the 3,000 ways that businesses overcharge customers for the services they *don't* use, especially leftover cell minutes, etc.
It is so annoying that when business does something seedy it's an "efficient price structure" but when individuals engage in the exact same behavior they go to jail.
I don't think I'm costing the owners of the wireless I'm using right now anything. Plus, the RIAA can't find me now.
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| flobro
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08-14-2003 03:41 PM ET (US)
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In some European countries there are laws that restaurants cannot charge to use the toilet. There are still places where you have to put a coin into a slot in the door. The mechanism is expensive, needs maintenance ... Even when I don't want a coffee, I consider a certain large chain in the US - as they keep their place clean - and yes it re-inforces my connection to their brandand I come back more often. Offering free Wi-Fi with a latte would have me stop searching for alternative coffee places and I may even add an unhealthy blueberry muffin to my tab while reading my email.
In the meantime - a list of "fair use" Wi-Fi places would be a service I would subscribe to.
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| Joe Stalin
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08-15-2003 09:17 AM ET (US)
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