SlashGear

Free WiFi seems to be far more prevalent over on the US side of the Atlantic than it is where I am in the UK, but that’s not to say you never find it.  So it’s a good idea for everyone to read Paul Boutin’s Valleywag piece on wireless protocol, which deals with everything from power outlet hogging (nb. carry a power strip!) through to hourly rates (he’s saying $5). 

Personally I’m thinking five bucks is a little on the low side and, considering Paul is talking coffee, snacks and tips in that, you’re either getting ridiculously low-priced food and drink (which is entirely possible, compared to our over-priced economy) or need to reach into your pocket more. 

What’s the protocol at Wi-Fi Cafes? [Valleywag]

With my monthly data bill getting higher and higher, I’ve been very curious about the “all you can eat, except it’s capped” data services that several cellphone operators have started offering.  Michael Mace over at Mobile Opportunity takes the time to look in-depth at the future of data on your handheld, pulls the rug out from underneath the belief that flat-rate pricing is key, and even goes as far as to offer five steps that, in his opinion, will make cellular broadband a success.

“What needs to be moved to mobile networks isn’t just the Web’s applications or price structure, it’s the Web’s open business model. We need to run a huge number of experiments in order to figure out what applications users will want in mobile data. No single company is capable of doing all that work on its own. The only way to make the experiments happen is to set up a vibrant, chaotic ecosystem in which thousands of developers will be free to rapidly try and fail at a huge number of things.” Michael Mace

Well worth a read if you’re curious about the direction operators are going in.

Will flat-rate pricing make mobile data take off? [Mobile Opportunity]

Having been called an e-Hermit before, and accused of spending more time online than I do interacting with the fleshworld people around me, I was very interested to read about Francesco Jodice’s new film Hikikomori.  The eponemous subjects are adolescents and young adults, predominantly Japanese and well-educated, who have chosen to withdraw from meatspace society and continue most if not all of their socialising via the internet.

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