BT and pals launch free Wi-Fi

Public hotspot provider BT Openzone is offering free Wi-Fi access to PDA and wireless-enabled laptop users who register with the telco during Wireless Broadband Week, 26 January to 1 February.

BT Openzone and Wi-Fi chip maker Intel are leading the Wireless Broadband Week initiative in a bid to promote Wi-Fi.

By registering online at www.btopenzone.com, existing and new users will be able to access wireless broadband free for a week using BT's 1,700 Openzone public hotspot locations, including Costa Coffee, Hilton Hotels and many airports, restaurants and hotels around the UK.

"We're trying to encourage more Wi-Fi usage and hope more [Wi-Fi providers] will come onboard to support Wireless Broadband Week," said Michael Jarvis, a spokesman for BT Openzone.

The telco has adjusted its Wi-Fi offering by introducing pay-as-you-go pricing and reducing the cost of hotspot installation for interested businesses by more than £149, to £250 excluding VAT.

But analyst firm Forrester questioned the market potential of public Wi-Fi hotspots, saying that only 11 per cent of people in western Europe have laptops and even fewer have Wi-Fi enabled laptops.

"Wireless networks have great potential in home networking and the enterprise, but I question the demand side of the equation for public hotspots," said Lars Godell, senior analyst at Forrester.

"People hail it as the greatest thing since sliced bread, but it won't change the world overnight. Only five per cent of Europeans have PDAs compared to 75 per cent with mobile phones."

Forrester said confusing 802.11 standards, roaming problems and lack of education on how to locate hotspots were also slowing wireless uptake.