The Song Remains The Same..Time To Change The Disc

Only the names have been changed.

Om's idea about AT&T offering free WiFi to all their DSL customers is right on. It's just many years too late.

This was what Verizon originally wanted to do with the hotspots in New York City where they planned to turn old phone booths into hotspots. Right idea then. Right idea now.

But the companies that are missing the boat on WiFi, MuniWifi, Coffee shop WiFi and hotel WiFi are the cable MSOs. They already have the fiber in the ground that runs right past those locations. Their sales force already calls on many local merchants. I mean, how expensive is a router and what does it take to install a few cable drops and turn on broadband. Besides, they already have the labor force, yet not one of the major cable operators has looked at how they can drive business to their business services platform by giving away WiFi or subsidizing the muni-wireless partnerships on a consistent basis across the USA. While there may be some regional initiatives, it would be nice if I could "take" my cable modem service to the local coffee shop (not Starbucks) and still be "connected" without needing yet another roaming service.

By making it consistent in grade of service and with access the cable guys could be the wireless and broadband leaders in the USA because everything the other guys are doing remains mostly defensive to preserve market share, not grow the revenue base.