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story category Wi-Fi Company Decides Free Beats Fee
MetroFi shifts to an ad-driven Wi-Fi model
(old news - 09:24AM Tuesday Jan 31 2006)
tags: prices · business · wireless
Wi-Fi Networking News points out that California Wi-Fi hotspot company MetroFi has crunched the numbers, and has decided to migrate from a monthly fee system, to free ad-driven service. The company offers mobile Wi-Fi, or allows home users to BYOB (bring your own bridge) for service. "At roughly $20 per month for unlimited usage, a good percentage of that had to be devoted to the expensive tasks of billing and marketing," says Fleishman. "Having ten times the users bringing in an average of 50 cents a month each in advertising should cover increased capital and recurring expenses while reducing staffing requirements."

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Forums » Wi-Fi Company Decides Free Beats Fee
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Post a:
amungus
Premium
join:2004-11-26
America
clubs:

free is always nice

heck yes. the internet being more free. some good news for a change. better not let ATT know or they'll want to charge more for all that content those users might be providing.

more internet services should be free like this so that more people can access the net without worrying about another bill they might not be able to pay.
permalink · 2006-01-31 09:29:31 · Reply to this

aztecnology
O Rly?
Premium
join:2003-02-12
Murrieta, CA

Re: free is always nice

Advertising wins again...
permalink · 2006-01-31 10:03:43 · Reply to this
dogo88

join:2001-09-24
Old Bridge, NJ

Re: free is always nice

Exactly, nothing is free.
permalink · 2006-01-31 10:12:54 · Reply to this
moonpuppy

join:2000-08-21
Glen Burnie, MD

Let's hope this isn't spyware ....

I hope there isn't any special softwae needed to attach to this network that fills your screen with pop-ups and other surprises.
permalink · 2006-01-31 09:43:06 · Reply to this

hpguru
Curb Your Dogma
Premium
join:2002-04-12

No thank you

I don't need no stinkin' adware.
permalink · 2006-01-31 09:48:14 · Reply to this
ossito16

join:2004-07-31
Whiting, IN

God is entering broadband

God is thinking about charging us all for using the electrons he created. He is going to try an recover some of the costs that us earthlings have been using. Go-Go free wifi
permalink · 2006-01-31 10:12:57 · Reply to this

GOLFnSUN
Enjoy the sun
Premium
join:2002-03-03
Avalon, NJ
·Sprint Mobile Broa..
·Comcast

For-fee, ad-supported main option for public WiFi

Looks like all the public WiFi projects are migrating to either a for-fee model or an ad supported model. With Google and others being the main supporters of advertising models, and Earthlink the main for-fee model(like Philadelphia WiFi project). Over the long haul I'd bet the ad supported model will win out. I doubt that the for-fee advocates will make enough money in public WiFi to stay profitable. There just won't be enough users who will want to pay for the poor speeds and coverage of public WiFi.
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permalink · 2006-01-31 10:39:06 · Print · Reply to this
BVT

join:2004-10-25
Mount Juliet, TN

Good development

Who cares about adverts? There will be a crack out that will take care of any software that you must install so you can get rid of the ads.

There will be a workaround as soon as someone gets tired of the junk. Even better, probably be a hot bed of warez with no way to track it.

Free the content!!!:D;)
permalink · 2006-01-31 11:40:54 · Reply to this

goofydoofy

what the ads will look like

»www.metrofi.com/advertisers.html
permalink · 2006-01-31 13:57:52 · Reply to this
jdir

join:2001-05-04
Santa Clara, CA

MetroFi - Faster than some neighboor WIFI

I did a test this morning - getting close to 600Kbps !! Faster than some neighboor open WIFI
permalink · 2006-01-31 15:11:46 · Reply to this
xsiddalx

join:2005-03-11
Chicago, IL
·AT&T Yahoo

anyone remember NetZero?

Remember those ads not more than 5 years ago that
promised "totally free internet"? Didn't they all
eventually roll into United online?

LOL

Sounds like they need:
1)A continuing stream of ads
2)A reduction in staff
3)Reduction in marketing???
4)A ten-fold increase in subs !!!

This is dead before birth....
permalink · 2006-01-31 20:30:22 · Reply to this
Forums » Wi-Fi Company Decides Free Beats Fee

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