Wi-Fi Hotspot News

Four in five people around the world believe that the Internet is a fundamental right - a poll for the BBC world service suggests.

The survey which consisted of more than 27,000 adults in 26 countries found strong support for Internet access.

Dr. Hamadoun Toure, the secretary-general of the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) told the BBC that "The Internet is the most powerful potential source of enlightenment ever created". He goes on to say that governments must "regard the internet as basic infrastructure - just like roads, waste and water".

It is for such reasons that we support Linknet, an African Co-operative with their Wireless Hotspot installations in rural Zambia.

Most people ask us why we're bothering to install a Wi-Fi Hotspot Service over there when surely food and running water are more important. We don't disagree that these services are important, we just feel that without access to the world wide web through Wi-Fi Hotspot deployments, a whole nation stands to get left behind. Can you imagine your children being brought up in a world with no computers, no internet, no Wi-Fi?

You can read more about the story on the BBC website here.

If you want to help connect Africa - recommend a friend for a Wi-Fi Hotspot today and we'll donate £10 towards the cost of a Wi-Fi Hotspot Controller for Linknet. Alternatively, donate directly to Linknet here.

If you watched BBC Watchdog last week, you will have seen their article about Wi-Fi Hotspots being unsafe. This has caused a bit of a stir in the industry and our comments have just been banned from their site...

Whilst most of the article contained well researched information, there were some glaring mistakes.

Firstly, you can protect yourself by visiting secure websites, i.e. those where you see a padlock in your browser.

Secondly, their focus on public Wi-Fi providers was irresponsible. In fact, DIY hotspots pose even more problems because they don't tend to be set up correctly and also because there are rarely any user controls.

Finally, while it is our responsibility to keep people safe, surely the companies asking for this sensitive data should make more of an effort?

Why are PolkaSpots Wi-Fi Hotspots Safe?

Firstly, if you use our broadband service, your office machines will be totally separate from the public Wi-Fi Hotspot. You get your own Wireless Modem with a WPA2 encrypted network.

Unlike the other providers, you can rest assured that only your customers are using the connection. You give your customers an access code when they want to get online. If they don't have one, they can't use it. Other providers have roaming agreements, so anyone with an iPhone (for example) can use them.

Obviously, your customers need to have a firewall on their machine and they should alway practise safe browsing ;)

Don't Panic - Practice Safe Wi-Fi Hotspots with PolkaSpots

Read more about PolkaSpots Supafly Wi-Fi Hotspots here.

Another one bites the dust. The Coffee Plant, a much loved cafe on the Portobello Road, has decided to use PolkaSpots for their Free Wi-Fi Hotspot Service.

As a local, London based Wireless Hotspot company, we're proud to support our fellow local businesses. You'll find a Wireless service, provided by our goodselves, all around Notting Hill.

That's what a friend of mine said last night when I told him I was off to Zambia to sort out a Wi-Fi Mesh Network for Linknet. The truth is, Linknet are bringing the Internet to 25 rural African villages. They've asked that I come and help them with their mission.

In Western countries, the Internet is taken for granted. We use it all the time for business and pleasure. In Rural Africa, things are vastly different. The Internet will be such a massively essential part of people lives, we're proud to be helping out.

I'll be off on November 11th 2009 for ten days. During my time there, I'll be helping the Linknet team with their existing network and adding 5 more villages. What a great opportunity - I can't wait to get them going.

Update: you can download the press release here.

It all started with a server, sitting on the floor in a small basement flat in Ladbroke Grove, West London...

In the summer of 2005, Simon Morley was fresh from a Mechanical Engineering degree, and considering his career options. Just by chance, his local café asked if he could provide affordable, timed Internet access. Digging around, it seemed that only large companies were providing this kind of service...but they were expensive and inflexible (and boring).

And so PolkaSpots was born. Simon gained a new flatmate - a single server in a massive box, humming relentlessly away 24/7...no sleep without earplugs, no room in the kitchen, and electricity bills going through the roof.

The first mail-shot saw lots of companies sign-up, and PolkaSpots' customer-focused, personal service continued to attract new business. A year later, Simon was joined by Web Ninja, Michael Speechley who's helped grow the company from just 30 Wireless Hotspots to about a million.

There are now 5 of us - we still work in Ladbroke Grove (albeit in a slightly different office) and we're still listening to our customers.

Call 020 7183 1471 to find out more...

Like you, we've spent a good few hours faffing around with trendy social networking tools. Some we could figure out and others, like Booboo, caused a few more issues.

You agree that there's some merit to be found in most of them. Twitter's got a certain handiness for those that need to let the masses know what they're up to. We use it and we love it.

Newsletters are another tool that you may write from time to time but don't think do anything. You'd be wrong. Perhaps you don't even think they're a tool. Weblogs are the same; this month we were shocked to find a customer writing nonsense on his, just because someone said it was a good idea. If you're going to write them, keep them relevant please.

But Facebook's where we draw the line. Who in their right mind wants to be friends with an estate agent? We found one today, actively promoting their facebook profile. They had 74 'friends'. Having 74 friends does not make you cool. Do you care what an estate agent is up to on a daily basis? Certainly, we'll never buy a house from this man. The truth is, there are very few businesses that truly have a tribe following them...

Before you start using these tools, get some advise before you go live. If perhaps you run a surf shack in Newquay, you'll find few people interested in what you do. However, if you're in the business of mending the bearings on computer fans, perhaps your best route is to pick your marketing tools a little more carefully.

We can help you define your business tools. Just call before you start.