Feature photos by striatic
Wi-fi zones have long been branching out to more than just cafes, hotels, and airports. Check out a few of these surprising hotspots.
The Beach, Los Angeles, California
As long as a beach bum is within sight of one of the elevated antenna locations along Pier Avenue in LA, he can surf the net. The Hermosa Beach wireless system (WifiHermosaBeach) has been up and running since February of 2008.
Hermosa Beach / Photo by Chris Cohenour
Phone Booths, Moscow, Russia
Plans for integrating 200 coin-box telephones with wireless connection into Moscow’s Comstar network began back in 2007. Customers can use pre-paid cards, SMS-authorizations and MGTS phone cards to access the Internet.
Since then, other cities have jumped on board. Hong Kong offers wi-fi at a few hundred phone booths throughout the city, and internet street kiosks have also popped up in London, Amsterdam, Dublin, Berlin, and New York. The price is typically steep, but these are convenient if you’re desperate to get online.
Buenos Aires subway photo by Irargerich
Subways, Buenos Aires, Argentina
No, not your favorite sandwich shop, although a few of those have been known to offer wi-fi, too. But in some cities, it’s possible to check out the latest YouTube vids…well, while riding the tube.
Buenos Aires became the first city to offer free Internet access in subway stations a few years ago, and several cities have followed suit, including Hong Kong, Glasgow, and Boston.
Marinas, Auckland, New Zealand
Specifically, Westhaven Marina, which is now the largest marina wifi zone in the southern hemisphere.
Coverage at Westhaven is provided by Auckland City Wi-fi, a collaboration between the Auckland City Council, Kordia (leading provider of broadcast and telecommunications networks), and Tomizone (Australasia’s largest wi-fi provider) that covers seven zones across Auckland.
Marina hotspots are becoming more common, and there are several around the world, including Canada, the U.K., Europe, and several states in the U.S.
Photo by andreanna
Whole Foods, Most Cities, United States
As announced on their blog in April of 2009, now customers can stay connected to the world while shopping for local food, or enjoying an organic soy latte in the Whole Foods cafe.
Bonus: Now you can run a Google search for the weird stuff in the produce section. (You know what I’m talking about. That spiky orange football-shaped thing.)
Golf Courses, Tallahassee, Florida
At Florida State University’s Don Veller Seminole Golf Course, wi-fi isn’t just for the club. Thanks to the GPS Industries’ Inforemer HDX display units on their golf carts, combined with an integrated wi-fi communications network, the entire facility is a hotspot.
Internet access on the green helps the staff monitor play to keep things running smoothly. And Tim Melloh, General Manager, adds, “Even the ability to order food from the course’s Renegade Grill while you’re out on the course will save golfers time at the turn.”
Middle of Nowhere, Sarohan, India
Wi-fi in India may not seem so surprising, but for this small village of 2,000 people, it’s almost miraculous.
As of 2005, Sarohan didn’t even have electricity, so the 20-metre wif-fi tower that looms over the thatched roofs and mango orchards provided a much-needed way to communicate with relatives.
The tower was provided by IIT Kanpur’s Digital Gangetic Plain Project, which has taken phones and internet connectivity to 10 villages in and around the Unnao area.
What’s the weirdest place you’ve found Wi-fi?
Share your experiences by leaving a comment below!
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17 Comments... join the discussion!
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Whole Foods knows their target market very, very well
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From zero electricity to wifi in 4 years? Now that’s the definition of leapfrog.
I dig the subway idea, very handy if you have a long commute (more productive than napping on your neighbor’s shoulder, anyway). Don’t really get the phone booths.
Wifi spots that always puzzle me are ones in fancy restaurants–you know, places where the tables are preset with plates, utensils, and napkins in the shape of swans. There’s simply no room–let alone social acceptance–for your laptop there.
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“I dig the subway idea” – pun intended?
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Boston has wifi access in its subways? Since when? This is good news.
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Here’s link to what I could find about wifi on the T in Boston.
http://www.mbta.com/riding_the_t/wifi/
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It’s not “weird,” but New York City has some really lovely public spots with WiFi, including Bryant Park, behind the main branch of the New York Public Library. Since there are food kiosks, cafe tables, and individual chairs, it can become your virtual office when the weather’s good.
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Love working at Bryant Park!
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I don’t really get the “internet kiosks” either, especially since they’re supposed to be really expensive.
The subway is brilliant. And I’m with Liv- I hope the airlines figure it out soon!
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Phone booths? You don’t actually have to be IN the booths do you?
This isn’t really a weird place, but interesting if you’re living in or visiting Melbourne. Federation Square in the city has free wifi access.
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Heidelberg, Germany.
We found, like you said an internet phone box, while we were waiting for our bus. Everyone was just checking their facebook while sitting in the freezing cold.↵ -
That’s funny…apparently Facebook is as addictive as nicotine.
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Last September I went on a tour to Europe. I didn’t bring a laptop – but of the people who did no one was able to get any wifi connection. As soon as we stepped into a MacDonald’s in France it was no problem at all.
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I think the idea of wi-fi in a phone booth sounds like the basis of a brilliant short story.
My big question is–how is it possible that there’s free wi-fi on golf courses, marinas, and beaches, and freaking airports can still charge 10 bucks an hour to get online? I have a major beef with paying for wi-fi in places like Chicago O’Hare.
Anyone have recommendations for the best airports where wi-fi is free?
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I have recently heard rumors that the entirety of Seoul, Korea will be equipted to have wi-fi! The whole stinkin city! Quite an undertaking, but one that directly complements, arguably, the most wired place in the universe. Which makes me believe they’re at least considering it.
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Jon,
I’ve heard that about a few cities- “blanketed” wi-fi. Seoul practically is already…it seems like anyplace I take my laptop, I have at least 7 or 8 networks to choose from. Crazy!
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Hey, Des Moines International Airport has free Wi-Fi. Haha, I found this out in March as I was waiting for my flight to London and my friend whipped out his Touch and started munching away on his addiction to Facebook.
Interesting.
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