Toshiba says we’re not wireless enough

I just came across this story posted on the BBC Technology website on Thursday.

A survey by consumer electronics company Toshiba, makers of the popular range of Qosmio and Portégé laptops, has reported that British laptop owners are not utilising their wireless capabilities (Wi-Fi) available on many laptops.

From The BBC: -

“Many users appear to be failing to capitalise on the opportunities presented to them through mobility,” said Steve Crawley, head of mobile strategy at Toshiba.

“Consumers who are only using their devices in the home are missing out on huge opportunities to benefit from technologies which can dramatically improve their working lives,” he said.

The survey also found that a core of users are still reticent about the technology.

About 6-months ago I needed to use my Apple iBook when on my travels in the UK, fortunately I spotted a Starbucks and proceeded to order an extortionately priced Latte before taking my seat. My trip Starbucks had already cost me over £3, so imagine my irritation when upon opening my notebook to find I had to pay for my internet access. What world do we live when coffee shops – the very essence of modern urban dwelling – charge for net access?

As readers know I’m all for the free-market, but I also believe Internet access is fundamental to a modern tech-savvy society. Blair and Brown are constantly reminding us of the importance of a knowledge economy, but one wonders what they are doing about it, and if they know what a knowledge economy is?

Broadband adoption in the UK is higher per-capita than the US, however is America really our competitor? Much of America believes the world is a few thousand-years-old so they probably view the Net with heretical suspicion. We should be targeting Baltic, Nordic and Far East economies whose adoption rates (and the relative speed of their Broadband) embarrass the UK.

A UK company called The Cloud is looking to rollout blanket Wi-Fi coverage in large UK cities. This is a worthy venture, but The Cloud are a leading Pay-as-you-go internet access vendor, so presumably they would be looking to charge by the minute. How will this help usage and introduce the public to mobile connectivity? When I was in Tallinn in December Wi-Fi access was free and ubiquitous. Even in the Food Court of a major shopping mall I had fast, quick access. I saw a very many users taking advantage of this coverage with their laptops and this is surely a major factor in Tallinn’s reputation as Europe’s Silicon Valley.

I understand that wireless internet requires an infrastructure and maintenance, and companies do not invest capital in altruism, but surely we could pioneer a different revenue stream other than paying by the minute? What about banner advertising? Clickable ads would scroll unobtrusively across the bottom of the screen, and regular users could subscribe to a low cost unlimited banner-free service. The ad-hoc infrequent usage would be free and self-financing yet regular surfers would not be hindered by the ads for the small fee.

Everyone’s happy, while at the same time the UK public is encouraged and empowered to get online, boosting their IT competence. If Blair and Brown are serious about the knowledge economy, they will ensure they are using our ever-increasing taxes to enable us to embrace it.

*****

This post was originally written for tygerland

2 Comments

Comments RSS TrackBack Identifier URI