UK Net cafe chain offers cut-price Wi-Fi

A chain of UK Net cafes is offering WiFi access at 30 locations in the UK at up to a quarter of the cost of a similar service offered by BT.

Internet Exchange says its wireless high-speed Internet connections will enable punters to use their own wireless-enabled laptops for online access.

The hotspots operate on the 802.11b industry standard and can be used to access the Net without cables by anyone with the right kit.

Charges start at £5 for 24-hours unlimited use or £20 for a month's unlimited access.

By comparison, BT subscription for its "Openzone" service starts from £20 a month for 300 minutes or one hour for £6.

There are 17 Internet Exchange WiFi hotspots in London plus others in Birmingham, Cambridge, Leeds, Manchester, Newcastle, York, Bristol, Southampton and Cardiff.

Those using the service also have freedom to roam up to 50 metres around the hotspot enabling them to move outside of the Internet Exchange locations.

The WiFi kit issupplied by northern California-based Surf and Sip (SNS). SNS is funding the roll-out of the service with the Internet Exchange getting a slice of the revenue.

SNS is understood to be keen to team up with other companies in the UK to roll-out its service. ®

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