CityCyclingEdinburgh Forum » Computers, GPS, 'Smart' 'Phones

Free Wifi

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  1. chdot
    Admin

    "

    Of course, there would be many people who would question the need for free public wi-fi, even in city centres. We don't expect free electricity or free public transport, so why should people get free internet?

    But the advocates see it as a move that could stimulate business and provide a boost to quality of life.

    ....

    "Wi-fi is not something we would put money into," says Kulveer Ranger, an adviser to the London mayor on all things digital. "We put money into things with a direct application to public service, like transport."
    "

    http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-14835059

    Posted 13 years ago #

  2. alibali
    Member

    We do get "free" street lighting, litter collection, security patrols, traffic flow cotrols and lots of other things intended to make a place a good and safe place to live and do business in.

    While roaming charges for data remain at extortion levels, free WiFi will definately make an impression on visitors to Embra, enabling them to find pubs, restaurants, taxis, their location and torist information.

    In short, just as for pubs, restaurants, bus services and airlines, it's a competitive advantage.

    I would sugest it's quite a big hit for a little money too compared to (insert you public transport example here).

    Posted 13 years ago #

  3. chdot
    Admin

    And don't forget to try the No. 10 buses!

    http://lothianbuses.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=835

    Posted 13 years ago #

  4. kaputnik
    Moderator

    Free Wi-Fi or Wi-Fi free?

    Posted 13 years ago #

  5. Nelly
    Member

    'Free Wi-Fi or Wi-Fi free?'

    I have the opposite, I come out in hives if I cant connect my phone to a free wi-fi network........

    Posted 13 years ago #

  6. cb
    Member

    ...adding to a random Wifi thread:

    http://www.scotsman.com/news/transport/free-wifi-plan-for-all-edinburgh-buses-and-trams-1-3264384

    "Lothian Buses will install mobile routers on all 713 buses in its fleet and the 27 new trams, which are to be launched in May. The devices are expected to be fitted later this year.

    Funding for the £2 million project will be met by the Westminster government as part of the Connected Capital programme."

    Posted 10 years ago #

  7. Focus
    Member

    Handy if you want to plot a route on a phone's navigation app and don't want charged for your data usage - just wait for a bus or tram to come to you ;-)

    Posted 10 years ago #

  8. ARobComp
    Member

    I've had some fun times with friends cruising on the M6 near a national express coach which had some free wifi on it. We had to stay close enough that I could connect my laptop and find out some information on where we were going!

    Posted 10 years ago #

  9. crowriver
    Member

    Free wifi on the number 1 bus too.

    Also some Scotrail trains: Glasgow-Edinburgh; Edinburgh-Aberdeen; presume Glasgow-Aberdeen too?

    Posted 10 years ago #

  10. Focus
    Member

    @ ARobComp

    I've done much the same, even on a bus with no wi-fi of its own.

    Posted 10 years ago #

  11. cb
    Member

    http://www.scotsman.com/news/scotland/top-stories/edinburgh-city-centre-close-to-free-wifi-access-1-3340944

    Posted 10 years ago #

  12. EddieD
    Member

    They already have it in Jedburgh and a few other Borders towns

    Posted 10 years ago #

  13. I were right about that saddle
    Member

    "some fun times with friends cruising on the M6 near a national express coach"

    Well, I hope you were all wearing Hi-Viz.

    Posted 10 years ago #

  14. gembo
    Member

    Many places getting mentioned. Free wifi will encourage visitors to stay in Gorgie?

    Great places like portobello, corstorphine and morningside also name checked.

    Plans to be approved

    On the train you need to get on at waverely and connected ASAP. Anyone at Haymarket will struggle, dependent on time of day.

    Posted 10 years ago #

  15. steveo
    Member

    Do we really still need free wifi, 10 years ago when these schemes started in the US there was an appetite for data the network providers couldn't cope with but now a cheap phone contract comes with plenty of data and you can always use it tethered to your tablet if you don't tell the provider.

    Posted 10 years ago #

  16. chrisfl
    Member

    @steveo I think that there is a need/place for free wifi. There are quite a few use cases I can think of:

    * Tourists, Roaming charges are ridiculous, so tourists will be very happy to have free wifi.
    * Relieving busy networks, some of the mobile data networks can really suffer in the city centre when it gets busy, if some of that load goes onto wifi it can't be a bad thing, also might be useful in covering some of the holes in 3G data in the city.
    * People who don't have data contracts; there are definitely still quite a few people in this category.
    * Some of the networks are getting quite good at working out if you're tethering (3 will disable your data if they spot it), so not an option for everyone.

    Posted 10 years ago #

  17. chdot
    Admin

    "I think that there is a need/place for free wifi."

    It's remarkable how many extra places there are now - Co-op, M&S, Gregg's, Waitrose.

    Posted 10 years ago #

  18. steveo
    Member

    chrisfl, I'll give you tourists though it depends who's ultimately paying for this service. As to the rest, not convinced. As long as you're not tethering a laptop I doubt the networks can really differentiate between an iPad or an iPhone or any android devices.

    Is it even possible to not have data in contract these days?

    Posted 10 years ago #

  19. cb
    Member

    If you're a Vodafone customer it would be welcome. Although I believe you can get a decent 3G signal if you stand at the top of the Scott Monument.

    Posted 10 years ago #

  20. Focus
    Member

    @ chrisfl

    "* People who don't have data contracts; there are definitely still quite a few people in this category."

    Absolutely.

    @ steveo

    "Is it even possible to not have data in contract these days? "

    A contract isn't for everyone though. I use PAYG because my phone is predominantly for texting and receiving calls. My costs are usually £15 per quarter, and that's only to get a discount on my home broadband bill. Otherwise, my bill would be even less. I won't get that on contract.

    Posted 10 years ago #

  21. steveo
    Member

    And do you drag your tablet or laptop round with you?

    Posted 10 years ago #

  22. chrisfl
    Member

    I will quite often have a laptop or tablet with me.

    And I have to admit I find myself constantly surprised by people who don't have data contracts or even smart(or feature) phones, and the very cheap contracts tend to only allow very small amounts of data.

    Not to mention the complex world of PAYG.

    Posted 10 years ago #

  23. PS
    Member

    I'm on a £10 a month PAYG tariff on my iPhone. Can't remember how much data that allows me to download in a month, but it's usually enough as long as I don't want to stream video/radio/music or download chunky files while out and about. I've only had a warning that I was approaching my limit a couple of times in 15 months on that tariff.

    However, it does mean I do not stream video/radio/music or download chunky files while out and about and there are times when I would quite like to be able to do so (to listen to 6Music, for instance). I don't know to what extent it would blow my download budget, but at the moment I'm not really wanting to find out.

    Posted 10 years ago #

  24. steveo
    Member

    I will quite often have a laptop or tablet with me.

    I’ll occasionally have a tablet with me but then I also have a smart phone and an unlimited data package, rolling 1 month contract £12 a month since you ask. I was just wondering what the overlap of non-data users and people who would go to the effort of dragging a large device with them.

    Posted 10 years ago #

  25. chdot
    Admin

    "I don't know to what extent it would blow my download budget"

    Surprisingly fast.

    My first iPhone contract was unlimited data.

    Think it was before radio apps!

    Now I'm on 1GB and it's easy to run through it.

    "an unlimited data package"

    Presumably that 'excludes' tethering?

    Posted 10 years ago #

  26. steveo
    Member

    Technically, but they've never noticed the iPad. I doubt they can tell the difference between tablet data and smart phone data.

    Posted 10 years ago #

  27. Focus
    Member

    @ steveo

    "And do you drag your tablet or laptop round with you? "

    Not my laptop, but sometimes my tablet(Nexus 3G), though it's not exactly a drag to put it in a jacket pocket. I'm missing the reason for your question though. I do have an (expired) 1 year SIM in that. I haven't bought a new SIM as yet as I don't use the data all that much. Handy at Christmas when shopping for presents though.

    Posted 10 years ago #

  28. steveo
    Member

    I'm missing the reason for your question though.

    I was just wondering what the overlap of non-data users and people who would go to the effort of dragging a large device with them.

    Like I said, wasn't sure if people would go to the effort of taking a larger device out the house if they felt they didn't need an always on data connection. Clearly some would; I'm still not convinced the city paying for data, when individuals can buy it cheaply or a great many stores already provide it for their customers, is a great use of council funds.

    Posted 10 years ago #

  29. Focus
    Member

    Ah, got you now :-)

    As I say, I don't consider it "dragging" to carry a smaller format tablet, but I wouldn't bother carrying a laptop or large tablet around unless I actually needed it with me.

    I do take your point about whether the council should provide it, and perhaps more businesses could be encouraged to provide it themselves. The 'drag' can sometimes be that many businesses (e.g. coffee shops) understandably want you to pay indirectly for that by purchasing their products when you may not otherwise want to. The best work-around is to look for Wi-fi which 'leaks' outside the premises, such as the National Galleries on the Mound ;-)

    Posted 10 years ago #

  30. Nelly
    Member

    Glasgow city council just announced a deal with BT to provide 50 wifi hotspots including loads of community centres.

    When this thread started I was all for wifi provided by councils, but to be honest so many pubs/coffee shops etc have wifi that having it 'in the street' seems a bit pointless now.

    Plus, I am on 4G now with EE and I genuinely cant think of an occasion when - wandering down Argyle Street - I would think 'hang on, I need to check emails, I must find a hotspot' - it all just kind of happens now and contracts give much better data allowances so it is less of an issue (IMO).

    I suppose if you want to watch a film while wandering around the streets !!

    Posted 10 years ago #

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