Paramount paranoia

From the CTIA NewsWire: "At Paramount Studio's premiere of 'War of the Worlds,' all guests, including celebrities, were required to hand over their handbags and wireless phones to security guards. According to a New York Times report, Paramount confiscated wireless devices in case people attempted to record scenes using their cameraphones. (Source: New York Times)"

this is rather entertaining. Paramount is determined to "beat the pirating plague" apparently. Yet, I wonder whether there is any merit to the idea that there is something to the modern version of the "word-o-mouth" advertising complete with video snippets? At the very least, Paramount made sure there was no snide-remark texting during the premier.

Big Brother watching you...

Age 16 to 25? The Pentagon Has Your Number, and More - New York Times The article details the latest in the government's privacy violations (this time acknowledged by the culprits - the Pentagon, though without much remorse really.) Didn't think Big Brother was watching you? Well, if you are 16-25, they have been working on it since 2002. I am actually quite surprised that this idea has occurred to them so late in the game. Most of the data is publically available - graduation dates, age and ethnicity - it just needs collection and sorting. Of course, the best part is that they have a marketing company managing this data. What's curious is that the article mentions the marketing company that traffics personal data as a business model as if it's the most natural thing in the world. The government, on the other hand, is an aweful machine. It's a strange dychotomy here in the US - we don't want the government to know anything about us, even though, to some extent, we have control over it's actions (minor, I agree). Yet we are perfectly ok with Corporations collecting information about us and knowing some of the more intimate details. This is directly opposite to the European attitude towards such things. To me this illustrates an interesting difference in the conceptualization of freedom.

No telemarketers calling your cellphone... just yet

From the CTIA NewsWire: "According to a CNet News report, the more that 190 million U.S. wireless subscribers could be targets for telemarketers. Since there are more wireless subscribers than wireline subscribers across the globe. However, Federal rules prohibit using automated dialing machines to reach wireless subscribers' phones. Under the rules, telemarketers are allowed to dial each number by hand, which would be labor and cost intensive, according to the Federal Communications Commission. CTIA-The Wireless AssociationTM ensures that wireless carriers are doing everything they can to keep wireless phone numbers out of the hands of telemarketers. (Source: CNet News)"

SMS politics

From the CTIA NewsWire: "The use of text messaging by Iranians to send slandering messages on their presidential election choice has some authorities concerned. Election text messaging had already become popular in Tehran prior to the first round vote, when young wireless subscribers sent messages reflecting their cynicism with the electoral process. Tehran's Mayor Mahmood Ahmadinehad recently found himself in a series of unflattering jokes and allegations via text messages, as his foes try to bring out a mass vote to support his competitor. (Source: AFP)" While it's making authorities concerned, I hope this doesn't turn into a full-scale persecution of these same youth... This is very entertaining though... government concerned over youth cynicism about the election. This spells out their belief that these actions will actually make a difference, and that's very very powerful.

Privacy and location awareness

From the CTIA NewsWire:

While one company puts effort into locating people more precisely: "Skyhook Wireless announced the commercial availability of its Wi-Fi Positioning System (WPS), which pinpoints locations better than satellite-based global positioning systems. The software uses 802.11 radio signals emitted from wireless routers to determine the precise location of any Wi-Fi enabled device. (Source: CNet News)" which, of course, is just what we all desperately need...

Another company puts effort into protecting the little bits of our privacy that we can retain: "The Liberty Alliance reported it is working on technology to keep wireless phone numbers from wireless content providers in an effort to protect consumers' privacy. The organization launched a team to develop specifications enabling wireless carriers to share information with third-party wireless content providers without releasing subscribers' phone numbers and addresses. (Source: CNet News)" - yes you can sell me ring-tones and movies, but you can't get my number from that and then bug me incessantly later! Well, this one is a breath of fresh air...

Digital 'Antigraffiti' Peels Away the Years

Digital 'Antigraffiti' Peels Away the Years - New York Times- Cassidy Curtis's Graffiti Archeology has been profiled in the New York Times. Cassidy is a wonderful person who did an amazing amount of work on the subject and created an interesting view of graffiti in San Francisco and Los Angeles (mainly). What the article doesn't tell you about is the years it took him to collect the photographs, to learn about graffiti, to earn the trust of the artists that would allow him to photograph brand new works or take pictures of them at work (a very rare thing indeed). Cassidy is simple and humble and he creates beautiful things.

Wireless news around the world (from the CTIA NewsWire)

Everyone knows that Japan has far surpassed the rest of the world in its utilization of all things wireless - that's what happens when most of your population is ultra-fashion conscious and lives in really cramped spaces. So.. "According to an Associated Press report, wireless phones may soon make wallets disappear. In Japan, NTT DoCoMo already has 3 million wireless subscribers using its Mobile Wallet service to purchase items at 20,000 stores and vending machines via their wireless phones. The technology is similar to wireless systems used to pay tolls on many highways and the SpeedPass keychain wand used to buy gas at Exxon Mobile. Similar services may be on the way for the U.S. and Europe. MasterCard International has been testing versions of its PayPass contactless payment technology since 2003 and may begin a significant market trial in 2006. Wireless phones could not only replace credit and debit cards, but also have the ability to supplant checkbooks, Websites, computer programs similar to Quicken and online bill payment services such as PayPal or CheckFree. (Source: Associated Press)"
Of course, this is not a brand new idea. I've talked about this before. One thing that still worries me about this process is the amount of information that can be stored on the phone. There have been some interesting authentication schemes considered though and i am curious which direction this will eventually head in.

In the rest of the world, however, "Cameraphones Continue to Draw Demand. According to an AFP report, cameraphones with sharper optics, larger memory, music playback and high-speed data transfers have become powerful multimedia devices, creating new revenue streams for wireless handset manufacturers and carriers. According to research firm IDC, cameraphones are becoming an essential feature for consumers. (Source: AFP)"
As digital toys become an inextricable part of our lifestyle choices we demand things that entertain us, make our lives more comfortable, let us fit in with scores of others that have the same technology. As camerphones reached the saturation point of adoption, owning one is part of the peer pressure of keeping up with the jones's. It used to be that having a camera-phone was a statement, now not having one is a different kind of distinct statement.

In local wireless news, "Sprint and Verizon Wireless may soon lower the walls on their networks, allowing subscribers greater access to third-party content, including ringtones and graphics. Allowing access to non-network content is common practice for wireless carriers in Europe, as well as U.S. carriers Cingular, Nextel and T-Mobile. (Source: Reuters)" Verizon has a strange record of lowering walls. On the one hand they encourage their users to get more advanced phones with more capabilities, on the other hand they remind me of an early Mac, trying to lock their users into the network (which eventually tends to backfire).

While Verizon and Sprint ponder the next baby-step in the world of thrid-party offerings, BT explores new money-making opportunities: "According to reports, Britain's BT Group plans to enter the multi-billion dollar music download market with a new service allowing wireless subscribers to download tracks for a small fee. The BT Livetime service will be launched as a pilot with Virgin Mobile allowing subscribers to listen to more than 50 radio stations via their wireless handsets. (Source: Reuters)"

BlackBerry users in peril Friday morning

From the CTIA NewsWire: "According to Cingular Wireless and T-Mobile, some BlackBerry devices across the U.S. were unable to send and receive messages for nearly four hours on Friday. Network disruption, which began around 8:15 a.m. EDT and lasted until about noon, was related to issues at Research In Motion. (Source: Dow Jones Newswire)"

I am sure there were BlackBerry users out there, who used this inability to send and receive email wisely and simply skipped work in the morning. Of course, a large proportion of BlackBerry users probably experienced withdrawl effects of varying quality and severity (anyone see a BlackBerry user twitch uncontrollably Friday morning?)

The Days of Tax-Free Online Shopping May Be Over

Click and Pay a Little More: The Days of Tax-Free Online Shopping May Be Over - New York Times: There is something just a little icky about the concept that California is trying to make Borders pay taxes on online purchases. Ok, I understand the idea of collecting taxes in the state where there is a substantial physical presence (even Amazon does that, sorry people in WA), and yet... The article details the efforts by the 45 states that collect sales tax in the country and have been hungrily watching their "revenue" slip away due to Internet sales. Now they want to force companies to collect taxes regardles of the location of physical presence. Of course, land-based retailers are supporting this idea because they claim lack of taxes makes online purchases unfairly cheaper (excuse me, has anyone considered factoring in shipping costs and waiting time?). I have several issues with these ideas:

1. Land-based retailers are suffering from the same thing as the music and movie industries - too fat to be nimble and accept that online retailers are going to be competition so they will need to come up with new business models to stay viable (make the land-based shopping experience worth the money for example). Having to pay shipping and to wait for the item to arrive is a big downside to shopping online in some cases. Land-based retailers really should capitalize on that and maybe focus on developing better service models.

2. States should maybe reconsider spending time and tax-payers money on figuring out how to make their tax-payers pay more. I am not one to really argue what states should do with the taxes they collect - I am not qualified to argue, really, since I do not know the particulars of such activities, but there is one thing that worries me about this insistence on tax collection online:
a. smaller online e-tailers (non-Amazon places) may be unable to provide an infrastructure for broad tax collection and remittence processes, putting them at a further disadvantage in their ability to compete with larger online sellers. This would reduce the selection of products online and consumer choice, effectively limiting the very thing that makes Internet shopping so good.

b. Yes, Ms. Evans from Jupiter Research makes big statements like "It's not that big a deal to consumers,' she said. 'So there will be little loss." but I have a hard time believing it. For example, I have stopped purchasing things from REI.com since the company gained a physical presence in PA because now I would have to pay both sales tax and shipping costs. Instead, I was able to take my business to MountainGear.com. Granted Ms. Evans cites WalMart or Macy's as examples, but just how many people choose to shop there rather than at Buy.com? Personally, I think there is a market segment that will sit up and take notice of additional taxes if they are levied and this will hurt some online retailers, especially the smaller ones that bargain hunters prefer. Any time additional taxes are forced on consumers it simply means making consumers pay more for goods and services. I am not sure states have the right to reach that far (that just smacks of a weird kind of surveillance). Besides, what if I am currently living in one state and my credit card bill is registered to another state (where I normally live) and I am buying something to be shipped to a third state as a present. Just who gets my taxes then?

Using Your Cellphone Anywhere in the World

Using Your Cellphone Anywhere in the World - New York Times - the article details tips for US-based world travellers and their phones. While most of the tips in the article are very useful, the author overlooks several very important features of the phones:

1. If you are thinking of travelling in Europe with your new GSM phone, make sure it's a "quad-band" phone, allowing you the largest range of countries worldwide. This refers to different GSM-bands that your phone can cope with. For example, Motorola's Razr or V500 series are quad-band phones with the V500 being one of the more popular and affordable handsets.

2. Think SMS. While calling on your phone (without getting a local SIM card which is often useless if you plan to travel for less than a week or to more than one country in the course of a week for example), text messaging is rather affordable. I have discovered that text messaging works in Europe and some parts of Asia (at least Taiwan) and you can send them within the country and to the US as well. In countries outside the US, people are used to using SMS for communication and are sensitive to the fact that voice calls are more expensive, so they will usually easily accomodate the request to text more than call your phone. A single text message costs 50 cents to send and 0 to receive (if you have Cingular or T-Mobile service). Much more efficient and cheaper than the dollar a minute rate most carriers offer in Europe.

Cell phones as quarters or time cards?

From the CTIA Newswire: "Drivers lacking quarters in Coral Gables, Florida can now use their wireless phones to feed parking meters. The automated system allows drives to simply dial in from their wireless phones, enter the number assigned to their parking spot, and the required costs will be bill to their credit card. Subscribers call back and end the billing cycle when they leave. (Source: Associated Press)" - this one is a little odd - you have to "call back at the end of the billing cycle?" What if you forget? How do you know you've been overcharged? I wonder if you can specify the initial amount at the first phone call and then add more if necessary...

Also: "ECONZ Wireless product Timecard is a simple new tool available on Verizon Wireless phones that enhances productivity. Timecard allows remote employees to clock in and out using their wireless phones and then each entry is transmitted to a password-protected Web page accessed by employers to prepare payroll. Timecard is ideal for smaller companies whose employees would like to record their billable hours without resorting to payroll. The program costs $9.49 per month for each phone that comes equipped with it. (Source: Associated Press)"

Earthlink bids to build a city-wide wireless network for Philadelphia

From the CTIA Newswire: "According to a Dow Jones Newswire report, EarthLink has the potential to expand its markets through municipal governments, which are now eager to advance Wi-Fi access across their cities. EarthLink has struggled with losing consumers since moving away from dial-up access to faster broadband services, creating a decline in the company's dial-up business. In a search for growth, EarthLink is now focused on new technologies, including high-end services for wireless devices and Internet telephony. It has also studied alternative Internet-access technologies like service over wireless networks and power lines that could help free it from phone and cable companies. Through city governments EarthLink now has a chance to offer Internet services over large-scale alternative networks. EarthLink recently allotted 12 bids to the city of Philadelphia for a $10 million contract to build, run and maintain a city wide Wi-Fi network for residents, visitors, businesses and mobile government workers. (Source: Dow Jones Newswire)"

City-wide wireless networks make me wonder. First, there is the concern that such a network will impinge on the territory of other businesses (t-mobile's starbucks venues may be none too happy with such a development). Second, who is expected to use such a network and where? In the park? On the steps of the buildilngs in downtown? Third, just how far will this network extend. Fourth, how much will it cost to maintain and how will it pay for that?

Many companies that have tried to make a business out of wireless access offerings have had a hard time doing so. Especially in places that do not afford easy use of devices that can exploit such a network (i.e. coffee-shops work, public phones and park-benches do not). I am curious how the city of Philadelphia plans to maintain and use such a network and what kinds of returns it expects. After all, such a network can be used in households as well as on the street and in public areas, so such a service could be sold as an alternative to DSL and cable offerings, finally allowing customers to stop paying for extra services they do not wish to use (wirelines or cable TV). The question still remains, however, whether the integrity and reliability of such a network can be feasibly maintained and while earthlink maintains it, who gets the revenue?

BT Group Launches Bluephone

From the CTIA Newswire: "BT Group launched its combined wireline and wireless phone service, Bluephone, under the provider's BT Fusion brand. The handset operates as a wireless phone outside of the home and seamlessly switches onto a BT broadband line inside the house. The Bluephone promises better call quality and less expensive voice calls inside the home compared to using a conventional wireless phone. According to reports, the device is being monitored closely by other telecom providers around the world. (Source: Dow Jones Newswire)"

BT has been at the forefront of landline providers, attempting to merge wireline and wireless services. About a year or so ago, they offered ability to send and receive text messages on landline phones, acknowledging that this is an important practice among wireless phone users in the UK and wireline phone users may be disadvantaged (not to mention the idea that this may be profitable). I am not sure what happened with that service, but I suspect it didn't meet with much demand (I could be awefully wrong though). Now they are attempting to offer a service that will float between wireless and broadband services, providing better quality voice service and less expensive calls. However, such a machine is likely to be initially quite pricey so it's the quality of calls and not cheaper service that will attract initial buyers I suspect. Lets see whether the quality will really be that much better to attract enough buyers to make the system viable in the long run. Not so sure about that quite yet.

On a similar topic: "KDDI Corp. announced its proposal to merge its wireline and wireless networks, with the intent of providing seamless services. The company plans to start constructing the network in 2007 and is expected to offer services based on the network in 2009 or 2010. The benefit of a single network allows users to have a central data account that could potentially include email, streaming video or contact information, which they can access from their personal computer, wireless phone or a telephone console with a screen. In preparation for the new network, KDDI said it intended to upgrade its current 3G network in 2006. (Source: Reuters)"

The latter makes a lot of sense if you consider that the wireline phone provides all the same services as the wireless phone except it seems to work better inside buildings (and the infrustructure is more dependible). If the networks were to be merged, the social and economic reasons for keeping a wireline phone still may encourage users to keep the wireline. So... instead of trying to make the wireline go away (it probably won't), why not integrate it into a complete package with the rest of the "networked digital home".

WiFi coming to an airline near you

From the CTIA Newswire: "International Airlines Launch Onboard Wi-Fi Access
A year after German airline Lufthansa premiered onboard wireless Internet access on some flights, at least 8 other international airlines are following its lead. Japan Airlines, Scandinavian Airlines, All Nippon Airways and Singapore Airlines have launched Wi-Fi service. Korean Air plans to launch onboard Wi-Fi access this summer. El Al, China and Asiana airlines will follow later this year. Business travelers are ideal customers since they like to stay productive, don't mind paying for convenience and usually travel with laptops. (Source: USA Today)"

From Internet to a Cell Phone Addiction - here we go again ;)

From the CTIA Newswire: "Studies from around the world are suggesting people are addicted to their wireless phones. A Korean study found that nearly one-third of high school students showed signs of paranoia when they were without their phones and two-thirds were constantly worried about missing a text message when their phones were off. A British study concluded that people are intimately connected with their wireless phones and see them as essential items and extensions of themselves. A professor at Rutgers University asked his 220 students to shut off their wireless phones for three days. Only three of the students completed the assignment. A professor of psychology at Boston College suggests some consumers have a wireless phone addiction and should put themselves on a quota system so as not to become too dependant on the device. (Source: Chicago Tribune)"

I am off to find the actual papers on the subject. I suspect someone from the school of communications at Rutgers to be the "professor at Rutgers University" so this should be relatively easy to find.

Lets start with looking at Chicago Tribune articles themselves.
Chicago Tribune seems to dislike cell phones and like sensationalism. Here is the source article for the newswire summary: When Cellphone love becomes hang-up by Cynthia Hubert.
The article talks about cell phone use as an addiction and users displaying signs of paranoia when without access to their phone. "Dependence on electronic devices is hardly limited to cell phones, said Bill Lampton, a communications specialist and author in Georgia. Electronic mail, he said, is equally addictive." Yes the topic of Internet addiction is still alive and well. I've posted links to this before here, here, and here. Obviously, the step towards extending the concept to all electronic devices is not far off.

One of the more entertaining concepts in this article is that of a cell phone as a "contemporary pacifier" Meaning, "as long as we're holding it, we don't show signs of unrest." Towards the end, the pundits interviewed for the article announce that the "society as a whole has created a dependency." Then there is a wimpy call to action: " "We need some voices out there to tell people to be cautious," Chaparro said. "It's not about stopping progress. It's about making people realize there are other ways to interact." Right... and before the cell phone we never used anything like it to interact... As teenagers, our parents never yelled at us for spending hours on the phone? Nobody ever broke down to get a second land line because the first was always taken either by mom or daughter and they had hot fights over who was to use it just then. Then we went and got cell phones and created an addiction.. hrm.

While the first article doesn't dwell on the questions of why, there are others that do. Here is one: Don't hang up! written by Louis Rene Beres from Purdue university. The author suggests that the cell phone perpetuates a "much more than reasonable need to remain connected" because talking on the phone makes us feel better, more important, less lonely. It's all about us, right? Chanelling Goffman, I would argue the idea of "reasonable" in a culture where being alone and idle in a public space is not exactly kosher is a little bit strange. You mean, we have found a way to deal with the socially awkward situation of being alone in a public space without a purpose and this is "more than reasonable?" hmmm... now lets be reasonable. The article quotes Freud, Nietzsche and T.S. Eliot and suggests that we have slid further down the slippery slope of hyper-individualism. This is less cultural critique than fiction, but entertaining none the less. Mr. Beres doesn't use a cell phone himself in defiance to cultural pressure I suppose. He would probably quickly endorse the idea of addiction... hmm... next?

So cell phones are addictive and they are making us want to be connected "more than reasonable". Watch out you cell phone users, it's a technology as evil as the Internet, it will erase increase your herd mentality and make you anxious when you can't use your phone. Are things really that extreme? I doubt it, but I am off to search for those papers now.

Wi-Fi Users as new coffee house problems

Some Cafe Owners Pull the Plug on Lingering Wi-Fi Users - New York Times - this article deals with an increase in laptop users at coffee shops. Some proprietors find laptops users a good addition to the population found in their coffee shops, others say they are "distracting" and bad business. Small coffee shop owners want their patrons to interact and to produce human noise and laptop users do not do that. I wonder, however, how much of this has to do with seeing a "community" coalesce around a coffee shop and how much is about selling more coffee and cookies?

Part of me wants to argue that the current backlash at wi-fi users in some places is simply a common over-reaction to a new use of technology and the social and economic effects that come with it. Of course, there is the problem of the wifi users staying long, buying little and simply taking up space without making it hospitable. Surprise, simply harrassing those customers by telling them they are taking up space and not buying anything ends up in "uncomfortable" interactions. Asking them whether they would like something to drink or eat at ever more increasing intervals, however, works better. The latter requires effort from staff though. I think there must be something to the social expectations of coffee-shop behavior and just how much one is expected to buy there. In most places, not much actually and it feels odd coming up to the counter more than once or twice in the course of several hours. Someone bringing food or drinks to the table though, makes this problem go away. However, simple presence of wait staff in an establishment is actually very good at deterring laptop use there, making it rather uncomfortable in itself (some breach of social etiquette happens there in the interaction between the patron and the wait staff).

I wonder though, where the concepts of coffee and tea houses started (coffee houses are native to places like Vienna, while tea houses originated in Asia and were picked up in Russia for a while). The two establishments had some similarities and differences in how the social script of their appropriate use was developed of course.

It's been long enough since I've read about this (a decade at least I think) so my memory may be shaky, but here are a few things that I "think" I remember: Vienna coffee houses were places for the breeding of dissent at the end of the 19th century, where exhiled revolutionaries mingled with artists and writers, working and discussing politics. Russian tea houses were places for social moments, dates, intimate discussions, while Asian tea houses were places of tradition and ceremony as well as places to meet and discuss politics, work, social instances.

The nature of the Vienna coffee house actually allowed (and still does) easy working alone, sitting alone at a table for hours, drinking coffee, eating pastries and working. Sometimes engaging in conversations with other patrons one knew, who also were most likely there to work, write, read and, sometimes discuss. The way such a place is run, however, is radically different from a US version of a coffee house - small tables, really quick waitresses who will bring your coffee and initial pastry and then leave you alone for an hour or so, coming back around infrequently but with insistence. Food and drinks are ordered quickly, paid for immediately, space essentially rented. Nobody ever would ask you to leave because you aren't buying anything, but they will make it extremely easy to spend money.

There is always a question of why do people want to go do "work" at coffee houses - spaces that recently were perceived as mostly social. I suspect that people who spend a lot of time working alone (more of them now) may crave simple human companionship in the form of presence in the same space. Nobody will ask someone to "keep it down" in a coffee house. I would guess that people come to coffee houses to work for noise, for feeling like they are a part of something, even if peripheraly. If someone wants quiet, they could go to a library and such a criticism would be well placed in the context of a coffee house. Through controlling their lighting, coordinating power outlets and the design of the space itself, coffee house owners may actually be able to control the use of their space to a much greater extent than they seem to recognize in the NYT article.

Diet by cameraphone

From the CTIA newswire: "Report Examines Cameraphone Diet
A Washington Post report examines a new dieting service called MyFoodPhone, which uses cameraphones to document subscribers' intake and emails the results to dietitians for analysis and advice. The system then assigns the subscriber a dietitian that looks at each photo and offers comments on a personalized page at the company's Website on the nutritional value of the food as well as advice on improving overall diet. (Source: Washington Post)"

Latest numbers for wireless penetration in the US

From the CTIA Newswire: "According to a Barron's Online report, at the end of 2004, 62% of the U.S. population owned wireless phones. Wireless carriers reported the best first quarter ever in 2005, adding 6.6 million wireless subscribers in the quarter at 64% penetration. Additionally, Barron's Online reported the trend toward family plans will drive postpaid uptake rates and offer the possibility of higher profits. (Source: Barron's Online)"

In the U.K., Study Finds One in Five Bullied Via Wireless Phone

"According to a U.K. study by children's charity group NCH, one in five young people have been bullied via wireless phones or the Internet. The study found 14% of 11 to 19 year-olds had been threatened or harassed using text messages. Bullies used images taken with cameraphones to intimidate or embarrass one in 10 young people. The findings follow reports of 'happy slapping' attacks where assaults are recorded on wireless phones and sent via video messaging. (Source: BBC News)"

The question is - who is to blame, the mobile phone or the tendency of children to bully each other? There is a confluence of technology that makes certain behavior easier and more effective and the goals of the users of such technology that actually do not change, just become easier to achieve. It may be instructive to consider that bullying has been around for as long as there have been children. Children can be really cruel to each other as they learn adult lessons that way. It is possible to use technology to counteract bullying though, just the same. It simply has to become the goal of the adults around, those who are willing to use technology to further this goal. Or maybe things aren't so simple?

Seattle Leads with Most Wi-Fi Hotspots

From the CTIA newswire: "According to Intel's annual ranking, Seattle and San Francisco top the list for wireless Internet access in America. Seattle took the lead thanks to its abundance of Starbucks outlets, which offer wireless hotspots. San Francisco finished second, thanks to wireless hotspots at bars, convention centers, office parks and strip malls. (Source: Associated Press)"

Unfortunately, this list does not make a clear distinction of free vs. paid wireless. I am surprised Portland is not one of the top two, but the list may look very different if free wireless hot spots were differentiated from t-mobile/starbucks partnership hotspots.