Google to provide free wifi at 47 airports and on Virgin America flights over the holiday season
Coming to an airport near you - November 10, 2009 - At 47 airports, Google, in conjunction with the current airport wifi access providers, will be providing free wifi service from now until January 15, 2010. Google will be working with Boingo, Advanced Wireless Group, Time Warner Cable, Electronic Media Systems, Lilypad as well as numerous airports that provide wireless services themselves to provide this service. Google will also be providing free wifi on Virgin America flights. For those suspicious of Google's motives, according to their FAQ, Google will have access to some aggregate, non-personally identifiable information acquired by the wifi providers, but that seems fair. Remember that when you use these unsecured airport networks, your data can be susceptible to snooping if you don't take precautions anyway, and the FAQ also states: "The SSID itself is publicly broadcast, just like any WiFi hotspot. As such, users should take certain precautions to secure their online experience from security violations by third parties or unintentional security breaches." So just thank Google for this thoughtful and useful gift and surf away!
In addition, Google is having a photo contest that begins on November 16, and users can submit photos via the free wifi. Google is also encouraging users to donate to any of 3 participating non-profits via Google Checkout, and Google will match donations up to a total of $250,000. In addition, the airport that has the largest donation total will receive $15,000 to donate to the charity of its choice. Details about both of these programs, and the free wifi are available here.
You can also read more information at Google's Free Holiday Wifi FAQ.
Participating Airports
* Austin (AUS) * Baltimore (BWI) * Billings (BIL) * Boston (BOS) * Bozeman (BZN) * Buffalo (BUF) * Burbank (BUR) * Central Wisconsin (CWA) * Charlotte (CLT) * Des Moines (DSM) * El Paso (ELP) * Fort Lauderdale (FLL) * Fort Myers/SW (RSW) * Greensboro (GSO) * Houston (HOU) * Houston Bush (IAH) * Indianapolis (IND) * Jacksonville (JAX) * Kalamazoo (AZO) * Las Vegas (LAS) * Louisville (SDF) * Madison (MSN) * Memphis (MEM) * Miami (MIA) * Milwaukee (MKE) * Monterey (MRY) * Nashville (BNA) * Newport News (PHF) * Norfolk (ORF) * Oklahoma City (OKC) * Omaha (OMA) * Orlando (MCO) * Panama City (PFN) * Pittsburgh (PIT) * Portland (PWM) * Sacramento (SMF) * San Antonio (SAT) * San Diego (SAN) * San Jose (SJC) * Seattle (SEA) * * South Bend (SBN) * Spokane (GEG) * St. Louis (STL) * State College (SCE) * Toledo (TOL) * Traverse City (TVC) * West Palm Beach (PBI)
