Finally - iPod and iTunes News are Great for Public Wi-Fi

Ina Sebastian | September 05, 2007, 01:03 PM

My colleague Michael Gartenberg blogged on today’s Apple announcements and mentioned the new Wi-Fi features. Being the Wi-Fi analyst, I am particularly excited about the iTunes Wi-Fi Music Store. Consumers will soon (it is a gradual roll-out) be able to connect iTunes directly to the iPod touch and the iPhone in proximity of a Wi-Fi location. A partnership with Starbucks enables free access to the iTunes Wi-Fi Music Store from the otherwise fee-based T-Mobile hotspot locations.

Wi-Fi enabled iPods are great news for public Wi-Fi – they are the long awaited devices that go beyond Wi-Fi enabled laptops. So far, there had been a few announcements about free gaming at fee based hotspots (Sony/T-Mobile - Starbucks, Nintendo/Wayport – McDonalds). This is a niche application that nevertheless met interest by young consumers (for example, 29 percent of 18 to 24 year olds tried it in the last year). However, ipod and music applications will likely take this to a mainstream market – in particular among young consumers, who are a major target group for public Wi-Fi providers at city locations anyways. As public Wi-Fi users in general, they check e-mail and search for local information, but they are also very social and interested in downloading content. Clients can learn more here.