Comments on: CBS Offers Midtown Manhattan Free Wireless Internet Access

By: Two Ways to Get Free WiFi in NYC: Starbucks and Sheraton Link | CenterNetworks

Thu, 24 Sep 2009 12:07:30 +0000

[...] in November 2007, we wrote about a free WiFi service provided by CBS in Times Square. I am not sure if the program is still continuing as I [...]

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000

Keep in mind a lot of hotspots require you to initially go to the autodirected mainpage to agree to their TOS (and see their ad). Which means your Skype phone will not work.

By: ThDuAb

ThDuAb — Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000

How will they show the ads on my SkypePhone that doesn’t have a browser? In the future there will be more and more devices that don’t have a traditional user interface.

By: centernetworks

centernetworks — Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000

remember they are putting the networks on their billboards – which is cheaper than running new. it’s great, let’s just see how the service is.

By: Oh Blah Dee Blah Dah

Oh Blah Dee Blah Dah — Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000

Bryant Park is just outside of the CBS free WiFi zone, at the South-East corner.

By: Jordan Mitchell

Jordan Mitchell — Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000

Based on a few anecdotal data points, I’m calculating the break-even per user session to be $.20 – $.30. Of course this varies based on the number of user sessions, and the highly variable nature of their monetization strategy.

By: The SUBWAYblogger

The SUBWAYblogger — Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000

It’s up and running right now. Actually has been for a few days, they just didnt tell anyone while they tested it.

By: Greg

Greg — Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000

I am not a New Yorker but when I last stayed in hotel south of Manhattan there were numerous open wi-fi networks. That combined with all the business (coffe shops, delis, ect.) and government (Bryant Park) free zones, I question how many people will want to slog through all the advertisements for a “free” signal.

By: Ted

Ted — Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000

Nice job CBS! I look forward to checking this out.
(…as long as the ads don’t hijack the experience with delayed popups or injected/persistent frames)

By: till

till — Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000

Kinda like what Google offers in SF, right?

By: Slacker

Slacker — Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000

This is a fantastic idea. Good to see a large corporation spending some of it’s money for the consumers.

http://askaslacker.blogspot.com

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000

so when is this thing supposed to start? is it working now??

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000

With a partnership with the MTA, this could be the starting point for providing access throught MTA’s system for free.

By: Skip

Skip — Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000

How much does something like this cost? If it’s sufficiently publicized, these mini-wireless networks could be a decent way to spend marketing dollars.

By: Tony Bacigalupo

Tony Bacigalupo — Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000

This is fantastic. Hopefully the start of a trend!

Wouldn’t it be nice if big companies started trying to claim different regions as their own “free wifi” zones?