Today I decided I’d had enough of the slow download speeds I get with my mobile phone and GPRS, so I thought it would be an interesting time to try out the various wireless internet access options out there. This was partly prompted by the news that Norwich train station is now, uh, wired for wireless.
Connecting to BT Openzone at Norwich was painless technically, but painful financially – I opted for the £15 for 24 hours service, since I figured it would be useful later today. The only disappointment was as the train left the station and I went out of range of the hotspot.
Cut to Liverpool Street station, a few hours later. Due to some late-running trains and overrunning meetings, I’m stranded here until 6.45pm, when I can get the cheap train home. Great, time to use up the remaining openzone hours. No chance! This station has no hotspots (and appears to be about the only one in London without a hotspot). The nearest hotspot is a Starbucks round the corner.
Again, connection was fine, but I got stung for a further £5 for one hour of access from T-Mobile. Argh!
So, several complaints that I’ll be emailing to the hotspot providers:
- Better advertising. The openzone sign in Norwich is too small to see, and it was only through checking the Anglia Railways website that I knew about it at all. Wondering where all the wireless road warriors are? They are probably too busy searching for hotspots to get connected.
- Better tariffs. If I’m at a train station, am I really likely to be hanging around for a fixed amount of time like 1 hour? No. Why not charge by connection time, or by amount of data transferred?Joined-up service provision. Why do I need to be signed up to and paying two or more providers? I just want to get online! Someone, please come up with the wireless passport that Matthew mentioned!
Enough rant for now. I have to sprint for a train.
Related posts:
Just shows that while the technology might be there (-ish) the business plan or marketing is not.
The service providers should understand that the way to make wireless profitable is by having returning customers. Not by getting a one time rip off profit from a customer that will not use the service again.