"That's right, we blog!" (with thanks to RP and GW)

News and information for free public access Wi-Fi location owners and users

We call a hotspot that offers free Wi-Fi internet access a Wi-Fi-FreeSpot.

Click here for the Wi-Fi-FreeSpot Directory.

Privacy Policy

 

 

Want to learn how to build a FreeSpot? Go to WiFiFreenet.

 
Park and Surf Free Wi-Fi?

Techdirt Wireless led me to a story about Wi-Fi "leeches" ( not a very flattering word ). It seems that some proprietors of businesses that offer Free Wi-Fi don't like it when people stay outside and connect from cars without making a purchase. It's usually travelling business people making a quick check of e-mail. The article suggests that some locations, especially motels, should welcome the chance to use Free Wi-Fi access as a way to encourage brand loyalty. The article ends with an interesting idea:
"Proprietors can choose to become frustrated chasing road weary traveling Wi-Fi leeches from their properties or view it as a marketing opportunity. Best Western does not appear to have advertised or publicized their widespread convenient and free Internet access. This gives a market savvy competitor a chance to capture some publicity if one of these chains was to create a branded drive-in Wi-Fi zone catered to these new aged road warriors. Install it in part of the existing parking lot, perhaps marking and marketing this special space. Welcome users who may become interested in spending a night there. Turn the leeching relationship into a symbiotic one."

Park and Surf Zones sounds good to me.

Read the full article.

posted by Jim at 7:06 AM

 
Free Wi-Fi grows and grows

First, my apologies for the lack of posts, no excuses.

My observations, my readings and the number of new Free Wi-Fi locations I add every week point to the continued growth of Free Wi-Fi in 2006. I have thousands of listings in the Wi-Fi-FreeSpot Directory and have been consistently adding 50-100 new locations every week, thanks to the e-mails I get from Free Wi-Fi users around the World.

I've been traveling quite a bit this year and every motel/hotel choice I made was based on the availability of Free Wi-Fi. Luckily, there were usually many to choose from on the road from California to Maine and Massachusetts to Louisiana. Just about all of the national chains of motels offer free Wi-Fi but many of the independently owned ones do too. So, not only can you look for the best price for a night's sleep you can probably get Free Wi-Fi too.

When price became the determining factor and there was no Free Wi-Fi available, coffeeshops and libraries (thank you Maine libraries) were where I found Free Wi-Fi. There were very few travel days without a Free Wi-Fi connection.

Not only do I want to say thanks to all the e-mailers for telling me about new locations they've found but I want to give the biggest thanks to all the coffeeshop/cafe/restaurant and other small business owners who give their regular customers and us walk-ins Free Wi-Fi. It might be "good business" but it's also just a nice thing to do. And also a thank you to Librarians and their Library boards/committees for supporting their communities with Free Wi-Fi.

Predictions for Free Wi-Fi in 2007?

More locations and happy users.
posted by Jim at 5:22 PM