- First it came to coffee shops, then pubs. Now McDonald's
has stepped into the fray.
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- London is in the throes of a "wi-fi" war, as
retailers race to offer high-speed wireless internet access to customers
so they can surf the net and check their emails while they eat and drink.
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- Hundreds of pubs and cafes have installed wi-fi "hotspots"
in the past six months to allow their customers to stay in touch while
they are on the move.
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- Today, high-street giant McDonald's announced it has
entered into partnership with BT to put wireless internet access into 500
of its restaurants.
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- The idea behind wi-fi is simple - it allows laptop owners
to use the internet without the need to plug their computers into a phone
line. Owners simply need either a wi-fi-enabled laptop, or a £35
plug-in wi-fi card for older laptops.
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- Once in range of the hotspot, users can log into the
service to begin surfing at high speed.
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- Hourly charges are made for the service, although some
hotspots are free or offer monthly subscriptions. Several companies already
offer wi-fi hotspots in Britain. Starbucks was one of the first to test
the systems, with Costa Coffee and hotel chains such as Hilton and Holiday
Inn also offering the service.
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- Meanwhile, the Government has pledged to install wi-fi
in every library, and many London pubs already have the technology, allowing
the long-held dream of being able to work from the pub to come true.
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- Louise Ballard works in PR, and has been using wi-fi
hotspots for several months. "If I'm out and about, it's really handy
to be able to go into a coffee shop or a pub between meetings and spend
half an hour sorting out my email.
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- "It's also great to have high-speed access - it's
like being in the office.
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- "I also find it's a great global phenomenon. Because
of my job I'm in Vienna and Munich quite a lot, and
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- I've used it there as well with no problems."
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- However, Ms Ballard warns that pricing for the hotspots
can be high. "I think that in Vienna, for instance, this is free.
But prices here are pretty steep."
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- Although prices vary between hotspot providers, about
£6 per hour is the average.
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- Laura Reid is the manager of The Broadgate Exchange,
a Liverpool Street pub that installed wi-fi for its customers a few weeks
ago.
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- She said: "We are already seeing some regular users.
I think our location is perfect, we are next to a station in the heart
of the City, so a lot of people hold their meetings here anyway."
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- She added: "It is important to educate the users
and we have started advertising a bit. However, we hope in the long run
this will attract more people, and that they'll stay longer."
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- http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/news/articles/8473053?version=1
- ©2004 Associated New Media
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