In an effort to boost visibility, several Web companies have launched campaigns in the U.S. to grab Internet users when they are most idle — at airports and on airplanes. Thanksgiving, Christmas, and the New Year's holiday are the busiest travel periods of the year and companies hoping to lure customers during these peak travel times include Google, Inc., Yahoo Inc., eBay Inc. and Microsoft Corp.
The news of free wireless Internet service comes as many airlines have reduced or discontinued flight routes earlier this year. Over 100 million people, according to the Federal Aviation Administration, will pass through the participating airports between now and January 15, 2010. The average passenger spends about 70 minutes in the airport waiting after they have gone through airport security. Add to that delays for bad weather or other circumstances and passengers have a lot of time to kill.
"We're very happy to extend our Holiday Wi-Fi gift to the millions of people who will spend time in airports over the next few months," Marissa Mayer, Vice President of Search Products and User Experience at Google, said in a press release. "We know that this is a very hectic travel season for people, and we hope that free Wi-Fi will make both traveling and connecting with friends and family a little bit easier."
Now when travelers log on to the Internet at participating airports such as the one in Austin, Texas, they will be asked if they want to set their homepage to Google. Travelers will also be asked if they wish to make an online donation to three charities:
- Engineers Without Borders
- One Economy Corporation
- Climate Savers Computing Initiative
Google will match donations up to $250,000.
Free In-Flight Wireless Internet Available on Airplanes
Passengers of Virgin America flights will also receive free in-flight Internet access until January 15, 2010 through Google.
During the week of Thanksgiving, the Web auction site ebay will provide free web access on the airplane for passengers of Delta Air Lines.
Free Wireless Internet in U.S. Hotels and Public Spaces
Earlier this week, Yahoo, Inc. announced they would provide free Wi-Fi in New York's Times Square.
After the launch of Microsoft's new search engine, Bing, they have been offering, according to the Associated Press, free Wi-Fi at hotels and some airports since September.
U.S. Cities/ Airports to Benefit from Free Wireless Internet Services:
- Austin, Texas
- Baltimore, Maryland
- Billings, Montana
- Boston, Massachusetts
- Bozeman, Montana
- Buffalo, New York
- Burbank, California
- Central Wisconsin
- Charlotte, North Carolina
- Des Moines, Iowa
- El Paso, Texas
- Ft. Lauderdale, Florida
- Ft. Myers, Florida
- Greensboro, North Carolina
- Houston, Texas — Hobby and Bush
- Indianapolis, Indiana
- Jacksonville, Florida
- Kalamazoo, Michigan
- Las Vegas, Nevada
- Louisville, Kentucky
- Madison, Wisconsin
- Memphis, Tennessee
- Miami, Florida
- Milwaukee, Wisconsin
- Monterey, California
- Nashville, Tennessee
- Newport News
- Norfolk, Virginia
- Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
- Omaha, Nebraska
- Orlando, Florida
- Panama City, Florida
- Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
- Portland, Maine
- Sacramento, California
- San Antonio, Texas
- San Diego, California
- San Jose, California
- Seattle, Washington
- South Bend, Indiana
- Spokane, Washington
- St. Louis, Missouri
- State College, Pennsylvania
- Toledo, Ohio
- Traverse City, Michigan
- West Palm Beach, Florida
Nancy Flores - My freelance work, which ranges from writing articles, producing and editing online video and shooting photos, focuses on Mexican travel, ...
