A couple years ago I did a piece calling for Free WiFi as a Public Service. Are we seeing locales do this?
Not generally. In fact, I’m seeing more limits being placed on people.
A recent visit to McDonald’s leads me to believe McDonald’s may not be the happy place to hang. I don’t see limits mentioned on their website. McDonald’s, I’m not lovin’ it.
LaLa Java in Shrewsbury, MA has a paid wireless program….although I have since learned the “free passcode” changes daily. Do I really want to ask for the free passcode daily? If I am a regular customer, shouldn’t that make my life easier?
Some companies have seen the light and now have free wireless, where they once charged. Starbucks comes immediately to mind. You used to have to pay for wireless, through a Starbucks affinity program. The affinity program is still around, with free wi-fi.
Certainly people who go and hang for a day go into a special category of rude. Same as they do at the library or other places. I get that, and I want to discourage them, too.
My sense is any company who can build better relationships with their clients is going to win over time.
If you are going to do wireless, make it free and don’t make me feel bad about using it!
