Free Internet?

Virgin Active offer free internet ... Melrose Arch has it!

I don't think they are talking about "totally free". There is ALWAYS a cost involved ... where ever you go. Even Starbucks in the US ... it is charged per cup of coffee. Lets face it, everyone is here to make money.

However, where I have a problem is places where they want you to "buy" more internet (time or megs) using vouchers or credit cards. Places like the Sandton Convention Center ... There one should be able to rock up with a wifi laptop and connect ... use ... and go ... That, in essence, is the idea of "free internet".

Thus, customers will use your facility bacause the inernet is not [further] charged for ... for now. Soon (like the artical is leading to) hotels (and the likes) will HAVE to offer "no charge" internet, because everyone else does! Just to get people in the door.

The internet will never be FREE ... like everything in life, there is ALWAYS a cost involved. What is you boss said "Friday is free day ... you work but will not be paid!!"? ... :)
 
Its already happening

We are a specialist ISP focussing on WiFi hotspots and launched a Free WiFi product a few months ago, the results are encouraging and you might want to look at the following blog post about the uptake in Cape Town.

We would not have released this product if there was not a demand in the market. I would add that some market education is required though in the sense that most establishments would assume that Free WiFi costs them an arm and a leg - it need not be this way, limited Free WiFi is enough for most travellers.

About pricing at hotspots, I'm currently travelling between Cape Town & JHB and even when using a competitors hotspots on the odd occasion I have not found the pricing to be exhorbitant, rather, I have found it to be a good deal especially when considering that I bought a data package that will be valid for 12 months and can be used by my colleagues when travelling.
 
Conveniently a comparison with Europe was left out of the article. Virtually every hotel I have been too in Europe charges for internet access, provided by T Mobile, Telia and others. It is part of the money making effort. You even pay to use the PC in the lobby nowadays. The costs are a lot higher than what IS et al charge here.

Even in bandwidth rich Sweden hotels often charge, though there is one I have stayed at that hands out an 8 hour voucher per day. It was also the least expensive hotel I have been in there too.
 
I have to agree with SDM about overseas internet cost. I recently traveled to Sydney and Hawaii for business. In Sydney I had the option of paying $1 (Aus) for every 15 minutes of access or $15 per day from my hotel room. In Hawaii I paid $45 (US) for 7 days' access from my room. In the conference center in Honolulu, there was no wi-fi, only desktops where you could go to to read mail.

I have to say that my general experience was that internet is very expensive overseas. Wi-fi access is not advertised as being generally available.

While at a conference in Cape Town last year, I stayed in one of the hotels in the Waterfront and was impressed by the fact that I had free internet access.

SA is not all that bad.
 
free coffee, telephones and car parking too?

on the basis that internet is free shouldn't everything that's an extra service also be free in a hotel/airport/convention centre?

seriously, providing a quality service is expensive - particularly if there are things like security, helpdesks and equipment needed. Sure, it can be added to the price of the room or delegate attending, but then isn't everyone paying for something that only a minority are using?

my personal view is that I'd rather be sold a basic package and then let me pay for what I want that's extra.. I don't eat breakfast so increasing my room rate and telling me there's free breakfast is of no interest to me.. same for all the non-laptop carrying people out there and free internet..

incidentally I travel all over the world and I would say that South Africa sits between Europe (high) and US (not so high) in terms of what is charged in hotels. There are other countries in Africa where the cost makes your eyes water, but generally the cost passed to the guest relates to the general cost of bandwidth in the region.

And don't forget the more youtube and video we watch means the more bandwidth is needed in the venue. This is extra cost and ultimately someone is going to pay - when the cost of bandwidth drops significantly maybe it'll get passed on to us? (maybe..) Like most things in life you can have it faster, cheaper or better - but only one of the three at any one time..
 
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