We’ll Give you Free Internet?
February 24th, 2012 • Uncategorized
I came across this and found it quite ingenious…if it works.
In Belgium, a mobile operator called Mobile Vikings released Viking Spots, which would allow for customers to receive free internet service assuming they took part in the offers from local businesses. What a great way to promote local businesses!
On Mobile Vikings blog, they state, “Everybody has the right for drinking water, energy and education. Similarly, we believe that everyone should have free access to information and digital services. Mobile Vikings wants to be a movement that accelerates this process. We think that VikingSpots can help to achieve this.”
The way it works is, users interact with the allocated spots to receive “Viking Points” which can be exchanged for mobile service; as well, they receive free mobile internet service. The project is currently in the Beta Phase.
My only question is, would there be enough Viking Spots to warrant this new technology and would this free internet cut out as you left the area where you utilized the app? Would it be worth the hassle of going through numerous advertisements and offers as you hit different Viking Spots or would you only have to deal with one offer and you would have internet for a certain amount of time? Finally, would it work in Vancouver since we have an influx of a million coffee shops which already provide free internet. I know that Rogers had a deal that allowed free phone calling, assuming you found a free internet spot in Vancouver…which is not that difficult with a Starbucks on every block.