Tech

Hunting hotspots

Last week was the first time I've been on the road with my laptop. A week's holiday was the main intent, but as a secondary project I wondered how easy it would be to come across wireless Internet hotspots.

The answer? It's not trivial yet.

Here are my recommendations.

1. Hotspots must be discoverable.
   Before leaving home I tried to find a list of nearby hotspots. This proved impossible. Ideally I'd have typed in a location and been given a list of the nearest hotspots, with an option to widen my search. No website that I could find came close.
2. Hotspot locations must be guessable.
   It's no use co-locating hotspots with some of another business's premises. They must be in all locations. That way if I find myself without a list of nearby hotspots, I can find one easily by looking up Happy Chef in the phone book, instead of heading to that location and hoping they're one of the blessed premises.
3. Hotspots must be recognisable.
   Even knowing the general location of a hotspot doesn't help at times. On the ground, the hotspots I found were marked by five-inch labels in shop windows or phone-boxes. Such signs should be at least four times larger, preferably displaying a universal instantly recognisable logo.

If I were a hotspot provider, I'd start doing deals with well-distributed businesses: restaurant chains, petrol stations, libraries. I'd ensure every one of a business's premises were covered before investing in a new deal, even if I believe an individual premises might not be cost effective. I'd heavily advertise the relationship and co-location. That way, on seeing the other business's sign, my customers would know they are welcome; there would be no need for my own marker.

But this is just me thinking aloud and I'm not in that position.

No, I'm in a service station off the M40. There are (small) signs indicating it's a hotspot, but I didn't know that until I discovered them at the service desk. The hotspot itself is present, but my computer is unable to establish a connection to it. This technology isn't quite ready for the prime time yet.