Wi-Fi - beating multinational businesses on price
When the concept of wireless Internet (Wi-Fi) was introduced to the UK, it was through a vision of free Internet availability almost anywhere you could imagine wanting to use a laptop, including restaurants, coffee shops, hotels and train stations. The reality is somewhat different, with charges of £5 per hour being the norm.
But although this is frustrating and expensive for people who need on-the-move Internet access, it provides potential for small businesses, especially those in the service sector, to differentiate themselves from large organisations and chains.
Businesses can install and run a wireless router and high-speed broadband connection relatively cheaply, thus offering an added-value service for customers. For coffee shops, bars and other food outlets, the connection could be used to encourage custom during off-peak times and influence customers to spend more on drinks, snacks and meals. For hotels, the presence of a free Wi-Fi connection may be a crucial appeal for guests, offering the potential of repeat custom and recommendations.
For businesses that are seeking a connection, ZDNet UK displays a map of Wi-Fi hotspots across the UK and JiWire helps users to find and use Wi-FI hotspots safely.
