There are increasing number of people who set up wireless Internet networks in their homes and businesses and -- sometimes unwittingly -- leave them open for anyone to share. Many colleges, geeks and city officials are making Wi-Fi as free as the foliage in public plazas. And now you can use Wi-Fi gratis in New York if you're a Verizon Internet subscriber or eating an Extra Value Meal at some McDonald's restaurants. There is a significant number of places where people with a properly outfitted laptop or handheld computer can get wireless Internet access without reaching for a credit card.
In addition to Wi-Fi use in homes and offices, the United States has some 5,000 public hot spots. That includes 2,700 operated by wireless phone carrier T-Mobile, mainly in Starbucks coffee shops and Borders bookstores. T-Mobile charges 10 cents a minute (the minimum cost is $6, however), $40 a month or $360 a year, though existing T-Mobile customers can sign up for $20 a month.
Nine businesses along Boston's Newbury Street have shelled out $350 each to share a high-speed data line that feeds their stores so they can transmit free Wi-Fi. The network has been running for more than a year, and no store has dropped out in disappointment.
It is predicted that similar models eventually will dominate. In that scenario, an Internet company like America Online would buy wholesale hot spot access for its customers from a provider like Cometa Networks Inc., a joint venture backed by Intel, AT&T Corp. and IBM Corp. Businesses point out that there's much more money to be had in selling more books, more coffee, many more bottles of wine, rather than trying to sell (Wi-Fi) access. The traditional payment plan of by the hour, or by the month, is eventually going to go away.
Because it uses unlicensed radio frequencies, Wi-Fi is relatively easy and inexpensive to operate. Many new laptop computers automatically detect Wi-Fi networks, while others easily can be made to do so by plugging in a wireless card. Many of the major cities such as New York or San Francisco have websites to help in getting WiFi access.
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