In the coming weeks, I will review places in Broad Ripple where you can sit down to enjoy a beverage or meal and browse the web or otherwise interface with the Internet - if, of course, you are suitably equipped for the experience. I'll also throw in a few pointers, reviews of new gear, and oh yes, answer your questions, should you have any. Please have some!

For this first article though, let me bring up a question that may or may not have been on your mind. I know it's been on mine. Should establishments (usually the ones with tables and chairs or sofas, beanbags, etc.) offer WiFi 'Hot Spot' Internet access at their location? Should it be available for free? Will it help their business? Will it interfere with the business? Is there any liability? Is it safe? Okay, so that's actually several questions.

For some outfits, the addition of free WiFi appears to have significantly improved business. As an example, Panera Bread is a large sandwich-and-coffee chain that has free access in all their stores. This has resulted in a large and loyal customer base that frequent Panera for the zero cost connectivity, even when they might otherwise actually prefer the faire at Starbucks. To quote an article, which incidentally I found on the Internet while using WiFi, "Cafés and restaurants are realizing that WiFi is crucial to retaining customers."

But is there any downside to offering Free WiFi? There is the obvious concern that customers will hang around all day and use needed tables. Some businesses have gone as far as turning off WiFi during peak times such as lunch, restricting access using a code printed on the receipt from a purchase, or even calling the cops to kick out somebody who wasn't buying anything.

Another worry would be people using the access for illegal or immoral activities. Fortunately, the law is now fairly clear that an Internet Service Provider (ISP) cannot be held accountable for what their customers do, and that applies in this case as well. Of course, that doesn't eliminate the concern that someone could be viewing porn while seated adjacent to young children - so it's a good idea for businesses to establish and post an acceptable use policy, and also install some level of filtering to help keep people honest.

Finally, there is the issue of security. While businesses cannot be held responsible for their patrons' security, they should never put their own equipment on the same network - especially that junky old computer in the back used to balance the books. While many free WiFi access points don't prevent users from being able to "see" each other, a for-pay service generally does use additional security methods that put up "blinders" to keep everyone apart. However, a determined person with the right tools can see right through even the best WiFi security - regardless of it being at home, the shop around the corner, or even at work. So the best advice is "caveat emptor" (let the buyer beware). Or in this case, if you bought a computer with WiFi, be wary of using it. Make sure you have a firewall installed and properly configured. I'll touch more on security another day, including the truth behind the "man in the middle" attack.

So do the business benefits make it plain to see the profit in providing Free WiFi to customers? I think the answer is clearly yes, provided the situation is monitored and precautions are in place to prevent abuse. Certainly it can build customer loyalty, since there is nothing more comforting than a good cup of coffee, a croissant, and a comfortable chair, while interacting with the electrons flying through the air and across the Internet. It's almost as fun as reading a good book.

And before I let you get back to that dizzying thought, consider that to keep our WiFi free, we customers need to remember to thank the business for providing it! I find that owners love to hear what reasons are bringing you back through the door on a regular basis. And we must treat that access as a precious and shared resource. Which means; don't download the entire 7 seasons of Star Trek TNG and eat all the bandwidth (not to mention that it's probably illegal). Do turn your audio down (or plug in headphones) so everybody's conversation isn't drowned out by the Windows startup tune when you fire up your souped-up laptop with the high-powered speaker system. Don't show up, sit down, jack in, and buy nothing. And by all means, do take notice when the place is getting full of new customers after you've been there an hour or so - and take a break to stretch your legs and give somebody else a chance.

So get out there and enjoy the smell of the coffee, the taste of the biscotti, and the buzz of the packets flying by at 2.4 gigahertz.