Filed under: Internet, Microsoft, Search
Rejoice, surfers! Bing it up with free WiFi access across the US
Apparently the offer began in September but perhaps they've been steadily unrolling it across the country as they only just announced it officially yesterday.
It's an interesting approach to marketing, and no doubt not the cheapest one either. But they're reporting good 'engagement rates' well above the usual .1 or .2% and will continue the scheme for the foreseeable future -- so enjoy your free wireless access! (As a juicy, related titbit, and in no way coincidental, Yahoo will be providing free wireless access at Times Square in New York City, for an entire year.)
Whether it's worth Microsoft's money or not may never be known. But one thing's for certain: Microsoft are famous for their brazen and fearless love of loss-leading -- they have the cash to do it, so why not?
And I tell you what... I would switch to Bing if Microsoft paid for my Internet connection. Wouldn't you? Now there's an interesting thought.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
darwinsurvivor said 9:54AM on 11-10-2009
How much do you want to be the most common thing searched for is "google"?
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Sebastian Anthony said 9:56AM on 11-10-2009
Pfft... not as much as 'furry'.
Adam said 11:00AM on 11-10-2009
I would search for google :p
Peorth said 9:54AM on 11-10-2009
"Google gifting free airport WiFi for the holidays"
"...47 airports across the US until January 15th -- an arrangement expected to cover about 35% of all US travelers. Oh, and it starts now."
http://www.engadget.com/2009/11/10/google-gifting-free-airport-wifi-for-the-holidays/
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Sebastian Anthony said 9:56AM on 11-10-2009
Ya, I wrote this one last night, for this morning -- the Google news came out while I was asleep. Damn them for reading my MIND!
Mike Zachaczewski said 10:49AM on 11-10-2009
Wow Google and Mircrosoft are fighting to give away free WIFI. Customers will benefit greatly in this fight. I wonder how internet providers feel about this. This will definately discourage people from wanting to spend $ on wireless internet in the future.
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Gav said 10:55AM on 11-10-2009
If they removed the random images behind the search box, and made the design of the page more clean like Google I, and probably a lot of other people, would be quite happy to switch to bing.
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William said 12:19PM on 11-10-2009
Apologies in advance for perhaps missing something obvious, but I don't understand how this works. I couldn't find an explanation for how this ad campaign works. Wouldn't we need internet access in the first place to make the Bing search? How are we supposed to know which WiFi access points offer this? What is the "limited time" on the Internet that we get per Bing search? Can this be extended? i.e., I make two Bing searches to double my free WiFi access time?
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Sebastian Anthony said 12:20PM on 11-10-2009
Yeah, details are a bit thin.
One site said 'if users agree to search Bing once' -- which suggests it's a trust-based thing.
But if you've ever logged in an airport or hotel, you'll know those 'login' screens you hit first. It wouldn't be hard to just change that login screen to a Bing search page, I guess?
adamscott said 1:45PM on 11-10-2009
my search would be google
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Miguel said 1:38AM on 11-11-2009
I'd use Bing even if Microsoft weren't paying for my Internet. It's superior to Google in most ways. (Google's spartan presentation helps, but that's about it.)
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whiskey said 2:50AM on 11-11-2009
I, in turn, would not use Bing even if Microsoft paid for my Internet.
It would certainly be a conflict of interest for anybody that writes about things related to Microsoft (unless reporting on the experience of such offering of course).
But hey, who is going to know, ri... oh ok, THEM! :P
Joshua Przygocki said 2:07PM on 11-17-2009
(As a juicy, related titbit, and in no way coincidental, Yahoo will be providing free wireless access at Times Square in New York City, for an entire year.)
Whats a titbit?
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Sebastian Anthony said 2:10PM on 11-17-2009
A small piece of something!
A titbit/morsel of something yummy. Tidbit is alternative spelling -- you might've seen that more often.