Thursday, February 23, 2006

Restaurants, Cafes Fastest Growing Segment of Wi-Fi Hotspots


If you are going to Experience Mobility, then part of it is connecting through a Wi-Fi hotspot. It used to be difficult to find them especially if you are in an area that is new to you. Fortunately, there is a pretty cool service you can use to find out what hotspots are near you.

Restaurants and cafes represent the fastest growing segment of Wi-Fi hotspots, according to recent data released by JiWire, the leading provider of public Wi-Fi hotspot information and services (www.jiwire.com). 34,544 restaurants and cafes currently offer Wi-Fi access, representing an increase of 18,267 hotspots from a year ago.

"As Wi-Fi becomes more integrated into consumer electronics products such as digital cameras, VoIP phones and gaming devices, people have come to expect an Internet connection at all times," says Kevin McKenzie, CEO of JiWire. "Restaurants and cafes have found that by offering Wi-Fi access, they are able to provide a valuable amenity to their customers and often gain a competitive advantage over other venues that don't."

Tokyo has the most restaurants and cafes with Wi-Fi access (1,037), followed by London (578) and Singapore (410). Within the United States, New York City has the most restaurants and cafes with Wi-Fi access (328), followed by San Francisco (319) and Chicago (271).

For more information about which food and beverage establishments offer Wi-Fi access, go to http://www.jiwire.com/search-hotspot-locations.htm and search a specific address or geographic area by "Location Type."

JiWire has helped me on numerous occasions....I hope it allows you to Experience Mobility just a little easier.

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