These days working lunches have taken on an entirely new meaning. No longer do workers have to sit in their cubicles wolfing down a peanut butter and jelly sandwich just to get the job done. Now, there is WiFi. WiFi stands for wireless fidelity and is used to describe a wireless network. WiFi “hotspots” are found in coffee shops, such as Starbucks and restaurants such as Panera Bread. Some of them are free while others have a cost involved. Regardless, these technological advances have allowed laptop carrying business men and women the opportunity to bust out of the cubicle, the home office, or the studio and be productive in a delightfully fresh environment.

How WiFi Has Impacted Business

What has WiFi done for business? One look at the hotel industry shows how much the presence of WiFi increases business. According to most reports only a few years ago few hotel and motel chains made internet access available to their customers, in-room. In the last couple of years, however, the number of hotels making internet access a given has exploded. As with the restaurants and cafés listed above, some hotels require guests to pay for wireless access, while others are beginning to offer the amenity for free. John Wolf, a Marriott Spokesperson was quoted as saying, “it’s a selling point that attendees will have wireless connections…It’s a value-added amenity.” Needless to say, these “amenities” are quickly migrating from being an added amenity to being an expected feature.

The Downside

While this all seems well and good for the laptop carrier, there are still downsides to WiFi. One of the major issues is security. If you have a laptop with a wireless internet card built in, let your spouse or friend drive you down the road and just watch as all of the unsecured available networks pop up on your computer. How easy is it to snatch some time on someone else’s internet. The same is true for businesses that do not have secure WiFi access. There is also concern over wireless regulations and how to monitor or prevent roaming. Regardless, WiFi seems to be taking on a life of its own.