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Wireless

by Mike Masnick

Fri, Mar 22nd 2002 11:36am





WiFi Franchiser

from the there's-an-idea dept

It seems that everyone's looking for a WiFi business model these days. A lot of people seem to like the Boingo plan to aggregate hotspots around the country. Here's a slightly different idea, though. Joltage Networks is trying to start up a WiFi franchise system. The idea is that you can buy a franchise from Joltage and get all of the software for authentication, customer care, billing and tracking. You have to supply your own broadband access and WiFi access point. In exchange you pay a franchise fee and share some of the revenue. They're also offering a deal for WiFi hotspots who want to remain free. In those cases, Joltage doesn't charge at all. They seem to think no one will go for this option - but I hope they're wrong. If there were a restaurant or cafe around here that offered WiFi for free, I would certainly give it a lot more of my business. Still, depending on how well it works, I think the Joltage idea may have more legs (if less marketing muscle) than Boingo - since it has a clearer value proposition for companies to sign up as a franchise.

6 Comments | Leave a Comment..


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  1.  

    Dana St Cafe

    identicon
    Timaaay!, Mar 22nd, 2002 @ 2:53pm

    If there were a restaurant or cafe around here that offered WiFi for free, I would certainly give it a lot more of my business Last time I checked, the Dana St Cafe on Dana St and Castro in Mountain View had a free WiFi.

    [ reply to this | link to this | view in thread ]

  2.  

    Re: Dana St Cafe

    icon
    Mike (profile), Mar 22nd, 2002 @ 3:14pm

    Cool. I'll have to check it out. Mtn. View is still a bit far south, but maybe I'll have to grab lunch there one of these days. If anyone knows places further north in the peninsula or in SF, let me know.

    [ reply to this | link to this | view in thread ]

  3.  

    no fee

    identicon
    Anonymous, Mar 25th, 2002 @ 5:20pm

    Joltage doesn't charge the provider any franchise fee, its free to be a provider..

    [ reply to this | link to this | view in thread ]

  4.  

    wi-fi

    identicon
    u2604ab, Mar 25th, 2002 @ 5:20pm

    So I just walked into Rudy's pub on University in Palo Alto, right across from the caltrain station, to drink a beer while waiting for the next train, as I just missed the train to SF that I wanted to catch.

    I noticed a guy at the bar who appeared to be surfing the web with his laptop. I pulled out the trusty white ibook and lo and behold, I write to you from the free-access Rudy's pub wi-fi network. Time to drink this beer.

    [ reply to this | link to this | view in thread ]

  5.  

    Re: wi-fi

    icon
    Mike (profile), Mar 25th, 2002 @ 6:13pm

    I think you might be using Palo Alto's new "hot zone" courtesy of Wifi Metro. They said it extends along University from the Caltrain station... They just announced it today.

    [ reply to this | link to this | view in thread ]

  6.  

    Re: wi-fi

    identicon
    Howeird, Apr 28th, 2005 @ 4:39pm

    It isn't Palo Alto's "hot zone". Mark, the owner of Rudy's has provided the service for customers.

    [ reply to this | link to this | view in thread ]


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