With consumers looking for some relief from increasingly complex and expensive wireless data plans, Starbucks is obliging. This past summer, the company made its Wi-Fi network free for customers. And in late October, it added something extra: the Starbucks Digital Network, which will deliver exclusive content to anyone who logs on at its 6,800 company-operated coffee shops in the United States.
Consumers can expect to see wireless access used as an enticement more and more—where it makes economic sense. Mobile devices such as new tablets and e-book readers will increasingly come bundled with data services that are free for a certain period, or subsidized and packaged so that the wireless-specific costs are hidden. Amazon's Kindle was an early example of this trend. Businesses are also pursuing sponsorship models that give users free access while using certain applications or after viewing ads.
To read the full, original article click on this link: The Enticement of Free Wireless - Technology Review
Author: Erica Naone
