So, unsurprisingly BT didn’t find enough takers for e-mail and Web phone kiosks, and are not rolling out any more. The usual sorry story of telcos not being able to judge what the user needs are at the application layer.
But wait a minute … imagine for a moment the alternative “Stupid™” business model of “just get the damn connectivity out there!”. Imagine all BT payphones were also WiFi hotspots. Easy to do — they have power, almost all can be DSL-enabled. Now allow “free” access to BT landline subscribers or MVNO mobile users. Ta-da! The old edict of coverage always wins comes true. “Distribution” (as opposed to technology, product, sales method, etc.) is the business model archetype of telecom. Stick with that, and you’ll be OK.
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The difference is distribution from Skype Journal
So, unsurprisingly BT didn’t find enough takers for e-mail and Web phone kiosks, and are not rolling out any more. The usual sorry story of telcos not being able to judge what the user needs are at the application layer....
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Here in the land of Oz, Telstra (The Govt. Monopoly provider) has enabled most CBD Payphones as Wifi hotspots. It creates a pretty gapless inner-city Wifi network. Unfortunately, the business model isn't "Free to landline subscribers". In fact, you can't even put it on your Telstra bill. If you have an Internet account with them, and you've rung up and pre-arranged to have the service enabled, you can have it added to your Internet bill. If you have a corporate calling card, you can add it to that account to.
THe downside is, it's $15-$20/hr, depending on your browsing habits. Even better, it's billed in 15minute blocks, and the stone-age billing system doesn't seem to support roaming between APs.
Connection drops out for more than a minute? That'll be another 15 minute block please!
But I was only 2minutes in to my first minute block!
Yeah, sucks to be you mate, doesn't it?