Chicago O’Hare is set up for wireless Internet, but still
charges you to use it. Hotels I stay at at have free WiFi….only for
Honors members of gold status or higher (for which I don’t qualify). The Merchandise Mart in Chicago has free WiFi as a "Boingo Hotspot," but you have to pay.
I know everyone likes monetization, but can someone please tell me what the business strategy is
behind charging for this service? Why are we paying for a service that is already set up to be
free, and will eventually be free in many public locations?
I really try to think from a
business standpoint about the advantages and disadvantages of charging patrons
to use WiFi access, and tried comparing it to paying for news content online, things you think about especially after going to Journalism School).
It only becomes ineffective because when wireless isn't free, people turn to alternate options (just using 3G data, using wireless in the lobby) and other effects result. At a hotel I stayed at in San Francisco, tons of people sat in the lobby to use wireless, so you can’t even find a seat because everyone is using the
internet. Guess what, Boingo? I can walk to Starbucks next door to get
wireless.
If it’s going to be simple efforts to beat around the bush, businesses should it easy themselves, stop being stuck up and get people to stay in their location by offering free wireless.
If it’s going to be simple efforts to beat around the bush, businesses should it easy themselves, stop being stuck up and get people to stay in their location by offering free wireless.
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