Park and Surf Free Wi-Fi?

Techdirt Wireless led me to a story about Wi-Fi “leeches” ( not a very flattering word ). It seems that some proprietors of businesses that offer Free Wi-Fi don’t like it when people stay outside and connect from cars without making a purchase. It’s usually travelling business people making a quick check of e-mail. The article suggests that some locations, especially motels, should welcome the chance to use Free Wi-Fi access as a way to encourage brand loyalty. The article ends with an interesting idea:
“Proprietors can choose to become frustrated chasing road weary traveling Wi-Fi leeches from their properties or view it as a marketing opportunity. Best Western does not appear to have advertised or publicized their widespread convenient and free Internet access. This gives a market savvy competitor a chance to capture some publicity if one of these chains was to create a branded drive-in Wi-Fi zone catered to these new aged road warriors. Install it in part of the existing parking lot, perhaps marking and marketing this special space. Welcome users who may become interested in spending a night there. Turn the leeching relationship into a symbiotic one.”

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