03-18-2003, 11:00 AM
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Editor Emeritus
Join Date: Sep 2006
Posts: 3,060
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Relax and Have Another Slurpee While You Surf...
http://www.computerworld.com/mobiletopics/mobile/story/0,10801,79047,00.html
As more and more people become enamored with the idea of nationwide WiFi access and extending the Starbucks/T-Mobile model for providing WiFi connectivity, I guess it was inevitable that somebody would take it to some absurd extreme. Leave it to Toshiba and Circle K (yes, the petrol station people) to do just that.
Several news services reported the story similarly to ComputerWorld:
"The public access Wi-Fi "hot spot" market just got a little hotter as Toshiba Computer Systems Group (TCSG) formally launched a project to deploy 10,000 hot spots in the U.S. by the end of the year...Toshiba has an agreement with WorkingWild Inc., a Scottsdale, Ariz.-based public access Wi-Fi company, that plans to install Wi-Fi service in 15,000 Circle K convenience stores owned by Houston-based ConocoPhillips."
While I applaud companies that are willing to push the envelope with deployment of new technologies, I have to really wonder about the logic of making convenience stores WiFi hotspots. Sure, at Starbucks, enticing customers to stick around and order a second latte by offering WiFi connectivity might actually reach a breakeven point. But I'm having a hard time drawing the same conclusion when Slurpees and the threat of armed robbery are factored in!
Is it me, or would you hang out at a convenience store, surfing wirelessly? If not what kind of locations WOULD you spend time at with your WiFi toys?
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03-18-2003, 11:21 AM
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Pupil
Join Date: Feb 2002
Posts: 20
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I'm not very familiar with the Circle K convenience stores name.
I thought that they were truck stops. If so they are mobile professionals.
I have been in truck stops, and these guys have to hook up, for many reasons
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03-18-2003, 11:29 AM
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Philosopher
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 539
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maybe they think everyone who shops in their store will check their email to see if the spouse has sent one with a list of groceries to purchase.
but i agree. it doesn't really make sense except for the people who live right next-door 
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03-18-2003, 11:46 AM
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Ponderer
Join Date: Dec 2002
Posts: 64
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"Is it me, or would you hang out at a convenience store, surfing wirelessly? If not what kind of locations WOULD you spend time at with your WiFi toys?"
I'd kind of like to sit at a park, underneath the sun. I guess that isn't good for business, so how about the food court at the mall?
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03-18-2003, 11:54 AM
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Sage
Join Date: Mar 2004
Posts: 633
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Does it neccessarily follow that this is for customers only? Might not they be using it for internal usage as well (I'm guessing stock control/replenishment purposes perhaps) :?:
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03-18-2003, 12:05 PM
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Intellectual
Join Date: Sep 2002
Posts: 125
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I would assume that they are expecting people to use the WiFi from their cars in the Circle-K parking lot.
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03-18-2003, 01:01 PM
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Editor Emeritus
Join Date: Aug 2006
Posts: 10,981
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Quote:
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Originally Posted by SnAPPUrU-nyan-ko
so how about the food court at the mall?
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SpotnikMobile.com has done this in Toronto. A bunch of food courts in the underground have become WiFi hotspots. Too bad they keep having authentication problems, becuase it has great potentional.
I think the Cirlce K may seem out of place, but if I was on a road trip across the US, it would be really cool to know that when I stop of gas, I could download my email and check on my servers. 8)
__________________
"I have no special talents, I am only passionately curious" - Albert Einstein |
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03-18-2003, 01:11 PM
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Pupil
Join Date: Jul 2003
Posts: 37
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Obligatory Bill & Ted quote:
Quote:
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Originally Posted by Ted 'Theodore' Logan
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__________________
How much wood would a woodchuck chuck if a woodchuck could chuck wood?
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03-18-2003, 01:27 PM
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Ponderer
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 66
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the more the merrier
The more opportunities to connect the better it will be. The problem as I see it is that there is no cooperation among the network providers. Somebody needs to resell all the services under one network so you can connect to any one of them with one id and one payment. Maybe this is what Boingo is all about, but so far they have not aggregated enough of these networks. Imagine if you could connect at any of the hotspots, anytime no matter who operates it. Now, that I would be worth some serious bucks.
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03-18-2003, 01:30 PM
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Ponderer
Join Date: Sep 2002
Posts: 85
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Forget that, what about the mall next door
My house is about 800 metres from the mall. I want wifi in the mall, how much cable do you think I need to get some internet access in the mall? (rhetoric)
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