Google absolutely loves it when people spend more time using its assorted mobile apps and services which is why it wants to make sure you never have to stop using them if you’re in a location that doesn’t offer a Wi-Fi hotspot. The Information now reports that Google “has developed plans to offer heavily subsidized Wi-Fi network hardware and software to small and medium-sized retail businesses” that they can in turn offer to their customers.
Among the “millions” of businesses that Google is targeting for this new program are “restaurants, doctors’ offices and gyms—and possibly even public institutions like libraries—in the U.S. and abroad.” The Information says that the Wi-Fi subsidized Wi-Fi equipment will be commercial grade and will offer significant improvements over many of the low-quality Wi-Fi hotspots that many businesses now offer customers.
We have no doubt that some will see this move as another of Google’s “evil” machinations to generate more money for its online ads and services and to collect more data on us all the time. While this is no doubt true, there’s also no denying that helping businesses offer their customers free high-quality Wi-Fi that they can use for whatever they like is pretty sweet as well.
