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Coffee Shop Wi-Fi Wars - If you want it for free, it's more than just a coffee |
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Written by broadbandreports.com
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Sunday, 09 July 2006 |
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In and around Boston, cafe owners who installed wireless signals to draw customers say they also are drawing Internet users who tie up seats for hours, buy little or nothing, and make coffee shops feel like the office as they tap away at their laptops. Now some owners are fighting back (The Boston Globe) by charging for wireless access, shutting off their signal at peak business hours, or telling loitering laptoppers to shell out or ship out. "There comes a time when you have to tell people, look, you've been here for three hours, and you've bought only a cup of coffee and it's time to move," said Adam Goldberg, owner of Emack & Bolio's in Jamaica Plain. If you have used - or plan to use - this type of service, what do you feel is an acceptable amount of usage for a 'paying customer' that simply buys a coffee?
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