MuniWireless

Microsoft’s new alliance with JiWire to deliver “ultramercials” online greatly enhances the business case for free wireless Internet access supported by advertising. This could be just what the muni market needs to revive interest in free ad-sponsored service on muni networks.

The ad supported model took off like a shot a few years back with munis looking to their Internet providers to generate enough revenue from the private sector to underwrite the cost to deploy a network and provide free service…

At the Muniwireless New England conference this month, Stefan Weitz, director of planning for MSN, said that the advertising funded model is viable and indeed complements the subscription model. At the Muniwireless New England conference this month, Stefan Weitz, director of planning for MSN, said that the advertising funded model is viable and indeed complements the subscription model.

In a medium-sized city they surveyed, they found an adoption rate of 20% to 25% even with limited marketing. 18% are likely to…