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NYT: Making Free Wireless Wi-Fi Internet Pay

Posted by timothy on from the aye-there's-the-rub dept.

securitas writes "The New York Times' Matt Richtel writes about the the challenges of finding a sustainable business model for 802.11 Wi-Fi wireless Internet. The problem for entrepreneurs, telecom companies and others is that the proliferation of free wireless access hotspots at the municipal and grassroots level has obviated commercial carriers' revenue and profit models in many cases. One user quoted in the story sums up the attitude of many wireless users: 'The Internet is free here.... Why would I pay?' IHT, published by the New York Times in Paris, is carrying an abbreviated version of the story."

3 of 152 comments (clear)

  1. Came to the right website to ask... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Funny

    1. Make free wireless Wi-Fi
    2. ???
    3. PAY!!

  2. Free like air-conditioning by philntc · · Score: 5, Funny

    I'm not sure where I read it the first time, but the model I keep coming across for wifi is that it will follow the same business model as air conditioning.

    Businesses will offer it because it would simply be bad for business not to.

  3. Just take a cue from the MPAA and RIAA by YetAnotherName · · Score: 3, Funny

    If you can't find "a sustainable business model" lobby to make free hotspots illegal.