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Pubs to offer wireless and mobile broadband access

A new survey has revealed that nearly half of British consumers want to be able to connect to the internet wherever they go using both wireless and mobile broadband enabled devices, and pubs have been listed as one of the top locations that customers would like to see mobile broadband capability.
The survey carried out by T Mobile has confirmed the change in how customers connect to the internet, and where they need to do that. More and more people are buying mobile phones specifically for their mobile broadband capabilities, but an even greater number of consumers are buying dedicated mobile broadband modems (dongles), with T Mobile confirming that that one in four of their customers is a mobile broadband customer.
This research undertaken by T Mobile indicates the significance and the future of the mobile broadband market. Richard Warmsley, Head of T-Mobile Internet and Entertainment services, said: "Mobile broadband has reached a tipping point and is now hitting the mainstream. The latest figures show that a staggering 44 per cent of us now want to use the internet on the go. Consumers are used to taking their laptops out and about with them and they expect to be connected.�
Pubs have been pinpointed as a potential for mobile broadband access because the survey found that office workers see the advantage of being able to sit and relax with a drink whilst using the internet. Any potential rollout would also include beer gardens, so customers could enjoy the sunshine while they use mobile broadband. Even with the unpredictable British weather, beer gardens are now used more due to the recent smoking ban.
Most major coffee chains such as Starbucks and Costa Coffee offer wireless internet access, and so it's natural that pubs and bars will want to offer that too. Mobile broadband providers like T mobile will clearly be interested in offering these customers a mobile broadband solution, so that they connect in their local but they can use their mobile broadband dongle to connect anywhere else.

29/07/2008
Author: CompareBroadbandUK staff writer

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