The Wall Street Journal is taking an unusual tack to draw in readers, offering free Wi-Fi service through September in more than 1,300 hotspots in New York City and San Francisco.
The Wall Street Journal WiFi Network, as it is called, is already operating in 70 percent of Manhattan as well as some parts of Brooklyn, Queens and the Bronx. In San Francisco, the Wi-Fi service is so far available in Washington Square, Nob Hill and Fisherman's Wharf.
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Source: The Wall Street Journal |
The business newspaper stands to gain considerable information from its foray into public Wi-Fi. For one thing, anyone who wants to access the network must first register for a free Wall Street Journal account. Current Journal digital subscribers and existing free registered users of WSJ.com can use their existing online log-in credentials to access the network.
Not only will the Journal be able to market its wares via the free Wi-Fi network's homepage, but it will also apparently be able to gather contact information from folks who might be potential new customers for its online services. Further, by providing the Journal with information regarding the various locations its existing customers visit, the newspaper could possibly collect data to support some future location-based advertising initiatives.
For more:
- see this Wall Street Journal release
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