Google today announced that it will provide free Wi-Fi now through January 15, 2010. It is working with airports across the country as well as Boingo Wireless, Advanced Wireless Group, Airport Marketing Income and others to provide the service.
Currently the free deal includes 47 airports, including Las Vegas, San Jose, Boston, Baltimore, Burbank, Houston, Indianapolis, Seattle, Miami, Ft. Lauderdale, Orlando, St. Louis and Charlotte. Additionally, as a result of this project, Burbank and Seattle airports will begin offering airport-wide free Wi-Fi indefinitely.
Google said last month it would also provide free WiFi on every Virgin America flight during the holiday season, starting tomorrow.
Free WiFi this holiday season is almost a given:
- Microsoft is teaming up with mobile ad network JiWire to provide free WiFi at airports and hotels, as long as users agree to make one search on Bing.
- Borders signed an agreement with Verizon to provide free Wi-Fi in virtually all of its 500 Borders stores nationwide.
- Barnes & Noble, the world’s largest bookseller, provides free WiFi provided by AT&T.
- Satellite broadband provider Row 44 and JiWire are delivering free in-flight Wi-Fi, supported by advertising.
- eBay is sponsoring free Wi-Fi on Delta Airlines during the week of Thanksgiving. Wi-Fi users will get access to the eBay home page and an invitation to shop there.
- Yahoo will provide free WiFi for an entire year in Times Square, starting tomorrow.
Google is also running a charity campaign to raise money for three nonprofit groups: Engineers without Borders, One Economy Corporation and Climate Savers Computing Initiative. When Google WiFi users first log on, the landing page will offer them the option of donating to the organizations. Google will match donations of up to $250,000 per airport.
