It's time to free WiFi connections

jes

jes

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It's time to free WiFi connections

There are times when I just need to get out of my familiar environment and find a place that is not an office or my home to work in and for this there are few better places than a local coffee shop.
 
+1. I for one spent a lot of time in the USA and also experienced this. Recently I was in Finland and it was the same. Unlimited free WiFi coverage just about everywhere and in many cases more than two options to choose from. I will take this on with Mugg and Bean and other WiFi hotspots when I happen to find one in this desert of hot spots.
 
If, say, Clearwater mall installed WiFi, I would rather shop there than at Cresta. The mall owners should be using this to attract customers, nevermind the individual shops.
 
South Africans generally have their heads so far up their arses, they cant see business sense even if it smacked them right between the eyes.

I too would go out of my way to visit a coffee shop where i dont have fiddle with 3G and PrePaid cards, etc... I want to sit down, order a coffee and bagel, open my laptop, and work.
 
Hot-spots

Just responding to this article, I think some owners are changing their views, or some are just not that well informed. One of my clients owns four Nino's shops around Jhb (Sandton City, Cresta Center, Columbine and Rivonia Boulevard). He offers his customers 2 hours free airtime at a sitting. His view is that if you support him, he will support you. The cost to him is less than R700p/m per store. After seeing the benefits of the first Hot-spot, had the other stores setup also. He hasn't looked back. Cheaper bandwidth will probably allow more owners to fall in line with this trend.

Regards.
 
I agree with it-person, you don't need business uncapped, I'm sure normal uncapped @ R900 will do as well. You can even set up a Untagle box and block some site, eg; prawn and stuff, and that doesn't cost you anything, except for the hardware.

I'm pretty sure that people can't complain about speed and some sites not opening, if the service is free. :) I know you still get people that will complain, but then: "Sorry nè."
 
Database of restaurant/coffee-shop owners who saw the light ?

Could we get this going on MBB ?
 
I think Bloekom has a good idea. If you establish a database with free wifi shops, it will force more of the others to follow.
 
MikeCTZA said:
I thought this was an interested read that was worth mentioning here; titled Coffee shops are taking Wi-Fi off the menu
Click to expand...

Yeah you'd certainly get a lot of people who abuse the system. If you're too cheap to pay for a internet connection you're probably too cheap to purchase anything more than a coffee and a glass of water maybe while hogging the chairs for customers who are willing to pay. I saw this happen at Mugg&Bean all too often.
 
Just got back from the States. It wasnt as ubiquitous as I expected. Even Starbucks were charging although they have recently changed that to free access on July 1 2010. There were a lot of wifi networks but not many that I accessed without registering. I was using multiple devices, iPhone, iPad, Mac etc.

If you have an Mweb account or IS or Plugg or Openweb or Wireless G or Axxess (not 100%sure about Axxess ) or Telkom Internet etc etc, you can freely access the AlwaysOn hotspots (they are the de facto standard in SA). It is perfect for the scenario that you are looking at ie occasional consumption. If however, you are visiting the coffee shop on a regular basis then I would look at the Wireless G option. It is not as expensive as you make it out to be between 30c per Mb to 45c per Mb depending (especially if you are willing to pay the overpriced coffee charges at the coffee shop)

Another development that I have noticed is that if you register for free at certain locations, (I have seen it at Newscafe in Umhlanga and Kauai - Canal Walk in Cape Town) you can get a limited amount of free wifi access for that time.
 
I know the Cattle Baron in Canal Walk has free Wi-Fi...just ask your waiter-person. Don't know if this is a universal Cattle Baron thing, but always worth a shot.
 
Get username and password with free access for 1 hour. Time is extended for every purchase over R20. Business ADSL is costing the owner R80 per day, surely he can get imaginative with how he mitigates abuse.
 
Bacini's at Cresta also has free wifi. Hope I spelt the name correctly, it's the place across from Pannarotti's
 
I'd be happy even if they provide the connection without bandwidth. An open bridge where I use my own PPPoE connection would suit me fine.
 
why am i not surprised, MBB bloggers always want things, connectivity especially, for free. PAY FOR WHAT YOU USE DAMMIT
 
stricken said:
South Africans generally have their heads so far up their arses, they cant see business sense even if it smacked them right between the eyes.

I too would go out of my way to visit a coffee shop where i dont have fiddle with 3G and PrePaid cards, etc... I want to sit down, order a coffee and bagel, open my laptop, and work.
Click to expand...

Couldnt agree more
 
Actually going to be offering my wifes clients free wifi from December for her small hair salon. The cost is minimal to us compare the value for her clients.
 
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