Insert Coin for Internet

At my work they have a streaming video relay of CNN so I will listen in to the news stream sometimes. It is interesting sometimes but they keep playing the same commercials over and over again. One of which is for an Internet access kiosk franchise with WiFi. Now from the first glance that sound pretty shaky but then I thought about it and that is the best way of selling WiFi. All of the Internet Kiosk that I have tried have sucked but the ability to use my own notebook is a good idea.

I am pretty turned off to the idea of selling Wifi access in a commercial location to begin with. I think that running a free WiFi access point can be as cheap as providing cable TV to a bar and the added traffic will make up to the cost of the DSL line. But if you were hell bent on charging for WiFi access then I think the best way to go is to have a ready made mechanical WiFi kiosk or a vending machine if you will.

One of the problems Wifi is that it is too damn hard to sign up and most of the people that are supposed to be selling it are not equipped or not informed about selling it.
I mean what does a bartista who makes minimum wage plus tips who is used to selling coffee all day know about selling and configuring wireless networking? I have tried about half a dozen times to try to buy only an hour or two access to a pay for play WiFi network but the register jockey had know idea how to sell the WiFi to me or were totally oblivious to the service.

Most pay for play WiFi hot-spots are trying to sell a subscription service but that requires to coming back to a place again and again in order to get your money's worth from a subscription. That is what Starbucks and friends have tried to do and while it makes sense for a business traveler but for a normal person it is not worth it.

Also pay for play WiFi access should not be more than a cup of coffee. I would pay about three bucks an hour. That is about as much as a movie but any more would be a rip off and hard to sell when there is such strong competitions from free WiFi hot-spots. There is too much reliance on credit card networks and subscriptions. Cash is good. I do not have to use a credit card and sign up to a subscription to make a pay call on a public phone and I don't want to for a pay for play WiFi session. I don't want to sit down and have to subscribe to one particular hot spot and come there several time in order to get my money's worth.

Oh yeah and having a nice place to sit is absolutely essential. A power outlet is even better.

If WiFi is going to get as common place as making a phone call we need the immediacy and privacy that cash and automation provides.