After having recently spent 3.5 weeks in Italy & a couple of weeks in the US, I was amazed at the availability of free wi-fi - cafes, bus stations, train stations, restaurants, and in airports - almost everywhere.

A few places had password protected log ins, but no hassle really - just a means to get crew to buy a coffee; others were absolutely free. It made keeping connected super easy whilst away.

It says plenty about the availability (or otherwise) of free wifi in Perth/Aus (kudos to the people responsible for the free wifi in & around Perth CBD, Northbridge & Leederville however)

Another service offered for free is the table cleaning at the joint close to where you go to the gates, sat there for a drink with my wife to fill the departure forms, she went to get a couple of drinks and I started to do the paperwork and a girl came to clean the already clean table and whispered to me that the tables were for customers only, mi wife came back with the drinks and she came again twice to pick up my empty bottle and then to get my wife empty coffe cup???? WTF do they need the empty bottles of coke so they can refill at the back?
Best bad service in any airport I have visited so far!

The use of "free" wifi and unsecured communications apps makes it so much easier to keep track of you.
Line, Viber and the like are based in countries with very little in the way of privacy laws, especially for non citizens.
Tin foil hat time I think...

I've got wifi in the domestic aiport bar but not free p155 although it was under $12 pint which for Perth is pretty close to free

Perth domestic Qantas has free wi fi when I flew to PNG last week via Cairns
International has nothing
W

youngbull said..

This WiFi things baffles me a little, more the case is not understanding. Why would people travel around looking for it, why does Supercheap auto have a sign free wifi. Do you guys/gals actually say "sorry dear going to bunnings to pay the bills" or something of similar nature. I just find it really odd.
We all have phone plans/prepaid why not use it at home or get off the phone and look up at life. No pun just odd.

I can answer from a tourist point of view, that it is very useful. I don't know if Supercheap auto would be anymore attractive because of it though. Do they do coffee too?

If you are only transiting in an airport lounge, having free wifi is awesome as it lets you check your emails, and more importantly find hotels, hire cars, other transport.

If you are only a tourist, getting a 3G capable phone and sim can be quite expensive. I was impressed recently to find a few international airports had free wifi, and it makes like so much easier. You could read a book just as easily, but when you really need to find a place to stay or check on where you are booked into, free wifi can be great.

I can understand coffee shops having it too, as you can sit there and browse the net while drinking a coffee or having something to eat.

Free wifi...

I went to Sydney recently via Melbourne, free wifi in Melbourne & Sydney airports, plus free wifi in both hotels I stayed in, all of them virtually unusable. You could connect and it was either slower than a dial-up modem or it would just drop out and you caouldn't get any access. That was 4/4 of the wifi places. I ended up tethering my Iphone and used that.

That's just what I was thinking. Fark eh

With a Bauhn Tablet from Aldi and the Aldi phone deal, who needs WiFi.

Tablet, 8" screen, 8 gig memory, add 32 gig micro Sd, accessory pack, WiFi capable, integrated GPS, Android O/S and it is a 3g phone as well.

Add Aldi phone deal, total cost $255.

Aldi phone deal, piggy backs on Telstra therefore best coverage, $5 sim starter pack which has $5 call value valid for one year, bolt on the Unlimited Pack for $35 which gives you for 30 days, unlimited calls, sms etc to any landline, mobile, 13,1300,1800 number in Aust plus $10 credit for international or premium services PLUS, wait for it, that's not all, 5 GIGABYTES OF DATA!!!!

Looks a bit dorky walking around holding a tablet to your ear but is has earphones. It has all the usual apps preloaded but load a couple more like Navionics and an office suite and you have 5 star communications. Navionics for $14 is a bargain and doesn't need network coverage to operate on the water but a waterproof case is recommended.

The only thing missing is a shoulder strap.

I don't think you will find a better phone/internet deal than that for $385 per year.

Disclaimer:- I am not affiliated with Aldi in any form.

I have a dole bludging neighbour that will drive into the city and pay for parking so he can use 'free' WiFi'
With that level of intelligence it probably explains why he's still living at home at the age of 40 with Mum and can't find a job.... maybe employers don't like his Goth look / shirts.

Chris6791 said..

I recently worked with a guy who would drive 8km into work, fill up 2 or 3 jerry cans with ordinary tap water then drive home and water his veggies with it.

At the price of water in SA I can understand it.... I'm just trying to work out how to get electricity home from work

Mark _australia said..

I feel really sorry for anyone who is so reliant upon web browsing and/or email that they can't be without it for a few hours. Whether it is social or whether your work demands it

Mark - 11,000 posts.

If you're sitting in an airport lounge it can be a nice distraction from the banal.