BloggingStocks http://www.bloggingstocks.com BloggingStocks http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/http://www.bloggingstocks.com/media/feedlogo.gif BloggingStocks http://www.bloggingstocks.com en-us Copyright 2012 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[FCC may deliver a free wireless web]]>http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2008/10/13/fcc-may-deliver-a-free-wireless-web/http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2008/10/13/fcc-may-deliver-a-free-wireless-web/http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2008/10/13/fcc-may-deliver-a-free-wireless-web/#commentsFiled under: ,

It is the dream of almost every mobile PC users that at some point the broadband airwaves will be free. No more connecting to one expensive WiFi service at one airport only to have to pay for another at the next stop. No more expensive 3G service.

The day may be coming. According to The Wall Street Journal, a new FCC "report clears the way for the FCC to move forward with a plan to auction off airwaves to a bidder who agrees to offer free, national wireless Internet service."

Although the study indicates that most wireless carriers will not be hurt by the program, that is almost certainly not true. By many estimates the free service will be available to 50% of the US population in four years.

The new plan may well do some significant damage to major cellular and WiFi providers. Free is free, and $59 a month can be expensive. How many people will opt to pay for service when they don't need to?

The other industries that could experience some level of harm are the cable companies and telecoms, which offer wired broadband to the home. A good wireless alternative may allow some people to cancel those services.

The FCC regulates the wireless and wired communications companies. Now it means to undermine them.

Douglas A. McIntyre is an editor at 247wallst.com.

FCC may deliver a free wireless web originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Mon, 13 Oct 2008 11:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>3GFCCfree wifiFreeWifiinthenewsWiFiMon, 13 Oct 2008 11:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Starbucks Malaysia: free WiFi, but the lattes are spendy]]>http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2006/07/19/starbucks-malaysia/http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2006/07/19/starbucks-malaysia/http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2006/07/19/starbucks-malaysia/#commentsFiled under:

Malaysia MapStarbucks (SBUX) has 400 stores in China, including 180 on the mainland. This, along with aggressive growth in Japan, might get the lion's share of attention, but the company also has a strong presence in Malaysia. Local subsidy, Berjaya Starbucks Coffee Co Sdn Bhd, opened its first in-country outlet in 1998 and just recently inaugurated its 69th. And the WiFi, available in some 40+ of the stores, is still free, a real value in a region where the internet is predominately accessed at pay-for-time internet cafes. Though to relatively high cost of Starbucks offerings for the average Malaysian consumer might make the price of that free web access somewhat prohibitive.

[Info on free WiFi via Wi-Fi Networking New].

Starbucks Malaysia: free WiFi, but the lattes are spendy originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Wed, 19 Jul 2006 09:35:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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