WiFi

I was trying to figure out this WiFi stuff and wondering how Starbucks and other outlets who provide WiFi access could afford to give it away free to their customers. Turns out they don't. Consumers pay a certain amount to a provider and then access the signals wherever they find the hotspots. The provider pays a set fee to Starbucks for hosting the hotspot and then a cut of the fee paid by the consumer. So Starbucks comes out ahead. Silly me for thinking that they gave this away free as a gesture to their patrons. There ain't nothing free unless it is worthless. Here's a good article on WiFi and its viability.