For Pay

The for-pay category includes companies such as Boingo, Wayport, and T-Mobile. These companies believe that they can charge people for temporary Internet access at hotspots, that is, an area covered by 802.11 access, typically within a few hundred feet of an AP. A variety of pricing and business models are being explored. Some plans charge customers by the day or hour, while others offer unlimited service. Revenue sharing is typically offered to the venue owner. While these plans have found some success with business travelers (particularly in hotels and airports), the mainstream acceptance of paid Wi-Fi access has been somewhat limited.

For more information on commercial hotspot offerings:

• Boingo: http://www.boingo.com

• Wayport: http://www.wayport.com

• T-Mobile: http://www.t-mobile.com