Free Wireless Internet: I Love Panera Bread!
I've switched offices recently - a complete overhaul. All the furniture is modern-looking (like it was purchased at IKEA), the colors were done professionally, the artwork is great, and the soup is fantastic! Yup - I've discovered the free wireless internet at Panera Bread.
Now, you have to understand this about me: I am an email junkie because I pride myself on being extremely responsive - I make it a game for myself to see how quickly I can get back to someone (for a great blog on the importance of responsiveness, check this out at Working Smart). I'm not a coffee drinker, so I don't spend copious amounts of time in Starbucks - but I do like the coffeeshop/bookstore hang... What I DON'T like is the whole T-Mobile HotSpot thing - they have been charging for years at large chains such as Starbucks and Borders as much as $30/month for unlimited access. Not cool... and so my question is this: with the direction that Panera Bread, most hotel chains, and many other independant coffeeshops are taking offering free wireless internet, is the whole charge-for-use thing in public places going to be a thing of the past? With whole cities investing millions of dollars into creating wireless CITIES across America, is the general consumer really going to want to pay for wireless access? Or are they going to come up with a new structure to help offset the cost of creating and offering such an amenity?
Questions that float through my mind periodically in moments of frustation when I find myself in an area that is charging me for wireless access... In the meantime, I'll be spending much more time at a Panera Bread near you. Please stop by and say hi, but don't expect too much of a conversation - I'll be hovering over my keyboard waiting for the next email to dare find it's way into my inbox...
It's an open question whether Starbuck's, McDonald's and others will switch to free. I guess if free access spreads far enough, they will have to do so because of customer demands.
But if you want to know where free is at, check out wififreespot.com. You may also want to keep track of ICOA Corp which one of the larger WiFi companies behind this trend. Their newer customers are Denny's restaurants and Stop and Shops nationwide.
Posted by: flycatcher | June 11, 2006 at 03:31 AM
Definitly have spent a little bit of time w/ the free wireless at Panera.
There's a couple coffee shops I like that offer it to...it's wonderful.
--RC of strangeculture.blogspot.com
Posted by: RC of strangeculture | March 26, 2006 at 09:02 PM
Having just gotten a laptop I myself am also running into that problem. When I want to be away from work but want to be connected to my e-mail. Very very frustrating. Glad you found a new "office". ;)
Posted by: Shelley | March 20, 2006 at 10:31 AM
Jeremy!
mmm, how phosphorescent it was
to be surrounded by you fantazzmarrazzical boys once again.
Your heart shines furiously for the One who is the sky that holds the rain and the healer of all pain... and it is evident in everything that you say and do. :)
Thank you X 930, 483, 908 for what you downHere lads do everyday. You are an inspiration beyond description. :]
Stay safe in all your journeys, travels, and voyages...and you're always in my prayers.
<3
cherylyn.
Posted by: electroluminescence | March 19, 2006 at 10:04 PM
tried PB the other day. black bean soup = :D. veddy veddy good. ;)
nice office space. ;)
Posted by: Kara | March 19, 2006 at 02:22 AM
Can't believe I haven't seen you yet....I'm there 3 days a week. They know which Pick Two I usually go for.
I'll be seeing soon.
C
Posted by: Chad Jarnagin | March 15, 2006 at 11:09 PM
I think that more places are going to go to free wireless internet. It will give many places a leg up on their bigger competitors. I mean how much more money will you and your friends spend at Panera than you will at say Starbucks?
Posted by: NerdMom | March 10, 2006 at 03:23 PM