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WiFi Why?
Rogers plans to charge $9 per hour for WiFi service at a handful of Second Cup outlets. It’s a bid to generate more revenue for their wireless division. And it’s stupid. $9 an hour is about the price of a recently-reduced movie ticket. $9 is a good burger at a bar and grille with faux-vintage signage. And $9 is a used CD that reminds you of high school. $9 is not a reasonable amount of money to charge for internet access, access that people can get for free in many a cafe or street corner.
A question has long been looming in Canada, especially among the big four mobility carriers, as to whether or not they can make a go of a pay-per-use model. But outlandish prices like these make one realize that we can’t expect a fair pay-per-use model when greed resonates. If TOist needs WiFi, we will certainly be drinking coffee elsewhere.