They say the subscription model of public access WLAN is teetering on the brink of disaster and that the "new WLAN Public Access paradigm" is here. The question is how can public access Wi-Fi hotspot service providers run their business in a manner that is sustainable and optimizes overall business objectives including revenue, differentiation, customer satisfaction, and retention.
This report provides coverage of 43 worldwide public access WLAN service providers, including bankrupt and merged companies, with a comparison and evaluation of global hotspot successes, failures, operator plans and best practices. The idea is that companies can see which service providers have failed, who has survived, who has thrived and why. An analysis of their business plans, the firm suggests, should provide Wi-Fi initiatives sound strategies for growth.
They add that this latest research represents a valuable and timely analysis, forecasts and recommendations for the public access Wi-Fi "hot spot" market from a case study perspective. No other report focuses on the existing worldwide hot spot business from the perspective of the hot spot operators themselves, they say.
Some of the report's key findings:
* Cellular broadband data will significantly disrupt public access WLAN
* Service providers must find the right mix of revenue sources
* Advertiser paid free Wi-Fi and location Wi-Fi will eventually work together
* Free Wi-Fi model will take 2 to 3 years to fully commercialize
* Muni Wi-Fi will have to overcome many issues including privacy, network management, ease of use, and adoption rates
For more see http://www.researchandmarkets.com/reports/c46784
