Wireless Internet Reviews

When I have a few free hours, there’s nothing I like more than heading to a local book store, plopping in one of their comfy chairs, grabbing a coffee, and reading a book or magazine. Some might call this freeloading, but I make a purchase more often than not, whereas I might not have even gone to the store at all had there not been an inviting atmosphere. Unfortunately most of my bookstores have closed, falling victim to the ubiquity of stores like Barnes & Noble and Borders, and especially Amazon. To that end, at least one retailer is trying to capture the same market as the local book shops. Barnes & Noble has announced free Wi-Fi will soon be in all of its stores nationwide. This is another way to invite in customers who might not have visited otherwise.

B&N had all this in mind when it formed a partnership with AT&T. They think of their stores as “community centers” which can bring people together. By offering a cafe, a reader-friendly atmosphere, and free Internet, they’ve taken steps in that direction

Apparently B&N will use the free connection to send customers messages about the store: events, sales, and coupons. It claims this is on an opt-in basis, but it seems reasonable enough to send all who are connecting these messages, so long as they’re not too intrusive. They are providing a free connection, after all. As with most free services, it should be on a “free if we can market to you” basis, which is just fine. Many people can just tune out the ads and enjoy the free Internet.

This could also be a platform on which to sell e-books, though that would work better with mobile devices than laptop computers. People have shown that they’re far more apt to read an e-book on a device like an iPod/Phone or Kindle, whereas it’s just not the same on a computer.

Best of all, this is an opportunity for work-at-home types to get out of the house, enjoy a Starbucks, and get some work done in a different environment. Hey, we’re the type who thrive on free Wi-Fi as a means to get out of the stuffiness of the house. If I have to view a few ads in return for the service, that’s fine by me.