July 17, 2008

Report: Wi-Fi Hotspot Business Model Changing

According to ABI Research's "Wi-Fi Hotspots Forecasts," by the end of this year global hotspots will grow by 40 percent over 2007. The greatest growth and the largest number of hotspots continue to be found in Europe. While the UK has long led in European Wi-Fi hotspots, there is also marked growth in France, Germany, and Russia.

Most remarkable about the hotspot market, says ABI, is that hotspot owners are beginning to see Wi-Fi as an operational expense, rather than a profit center. The report theorizes that the shift stems from billing challenges and hopes for future revenue from paid downloads.