08 Internet NZ: Where now?

63 Responses

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  • Compie,

    Simon, my experience of the UK, it was better last time I was there in 2002 than 2008. Seriously broadband is yet to be invented in London, but that was only one experience.

    I mean it's a joke to walk into a cafe here and pay to telecom. Starbucks in Vancouver charged and there were next to no laptops open. Waves with free 24 wi-fi and not bad coffee was jam packed even at 11pm Sunday nights (could they all be listening to radio sports super 14 coverage?)

    Dunedin/Vancouver • Since Nov 2006 • 114 posts Report Reply

  • robbery,

    and much of Europe from third party knowledge.

    my european knowledge is first hand from 18 months ago.
    There are lots of companies with wireless hotspots in airports and such but they expect you to have an account.

    asia on the other hand was great.
    japan was 15 wireless signals to choose from and all with no passwords, same in thailand, singapore was pay, but that may just have been the area I was in.

    new zealand • Since May 2007 • 1882 posts Report Reply

  • Simon Grigg,

    singapore was pay

    its been free in Singapore for years in pretty much every major mall and Changi, I've logged on many times there. There is a free 512 service throughout the whole island as there is in KL. Most coffee shops sell you a voucher for an hour or two in SG. I suspect that's the way it is in Europe, or at least that's what I've been led to believe.

    Then there are things like this and this. I suspect you just need to know where to go.

    Waves with free 24 wi-fi and not bad coffee was jam packed even at 11pm Sunday nights

    it's pretty much the same here. Even in Semerang in Central Java, where I spent a few hours last week, the airport had free wi-fi.

    Just another klong... • Since Nov 2006 • 3284 posts Report Reply

  • Simon Grigg,

    well I blew that didn't I..someone fix pleassse ;)

    Just another klong... • Since Nov 2006 • 3284 posts Report Reply

  • robbery,

    sell you a voucher for an hour or two in SG. I suspect that's the way it is in Europe, or at least that's what I've been led to believe.

    yep, available, but paid for, ie not free

    new zealand • Since May 2007 • 1882 posts Report Reply

  • Simon Grigg,

    yep, available, but paid for, ie not free

    yes but see those links..some 300 wi-fi free spots in Paris alone. Had dinner with a German friend of mine last night who said that free Wi-fi is common in much of Germany too, you just need to know where to go. A quick google confirms that such is the case.

    And you can't even pay for it in many places in NZ.

    Just another klong... • Since Nov 2006 • 3284 posts Report Reply

  • InternationalObserver,

    I'm surprised there's been no comment on PAS about Comcast (in the US) paying to fill seats at an FCC hearing so that 'the Public' were blocked from having their views on Net Neutrality heard.

    As John Kerry has just blogged on HuffPo

    Trying to lock out the public is a great example of why we need net neutrality. If the other side will use their money to restrict public access to a public meeting, how can we feel confident they won't use their power to restrict voices in the virtual world?

    [and]

    The official response from this industry giant is to say that paying people to pack a hearing is simply a tit-for-tat response to the efforts of a grassroots organization of activists trying to make their voices heard. This is an outlook where money can overwhelm public participation, and where speech is a commodity not a sacred right of democracy.

    This behaviour by Comcast is outrageous and is a harbinger of their plans to toll the highway at every opportunity. WiFi may become free everywhere, but we'll end up paying for it elsewhere.

    Since Jun 2007 • 909 posts Report Reply

  • Kumara Republic,

    At Welly Airport the wi-fi is free, as long as users stick to a measure of fair use (no BT'ing etc). A useful guide to wi-fi in WLG is Cafénet. The degree of cost is variable, and I don't know the details of every spot. But to cite just one example, I do know the Esquires outlet in Courtenay Central offers free Wi-fi with a coffee purchase.

    The southernmost capital … • Since Nov 2006 • 5446 posts Report Reply

  • Compie,

    Cheers for the heads up with Cafenet, off to wellybone at Easter.

    Man do I pine for the free wif-fi with coffee. I mean a computer is just a dumb too without it's connection to the world these days. How else am I going to win an argument without wiki on call.

    Dunedin/Vancouver • Since Nov 2006 • 114 posts Report Reply

  • Compie,

    Also just checked out the Esquires site, nice at least one hr is free per coffee. I figure I could eek out at least a morning at Esquires. The next question, how's the coffee.

    So here's a challenge, how's your mash-ups? Anyone wanna collaborate in a site with maps of free wi-fi in the country. Nothing like encouraging competition.

    Before you know it we'll be like Vancouver (except much better coffee).

    Dunedin/Vancouver • Since Nov 2006 • 114 posts Report Reply

  • Tromanuk,

    I am a Canadian woman living in New Zealand. The state of the internet here in New Zealand is pittyful. But I AM doing something about it. I work for a IT Company called The Deal Ltd. We are aiming to change the face of e-comm in New Zealand. Check us out at www.thedeal.co.nz. Not only are we battling the concept that online shopping isnt safe, but we are also aiming to deal with the fact that Kiwi's are so so SO overcharged for everything they need. The internet is about information exchage. Our goal is to use that information exhange to breakdown walls in e-commerce and over charging in New Zealand. Bring REAL commerce to the marketplace. Competition in pricing, and competition in web savvyness.

    Auckland • Since May 2008 • 1 posts Report Reply

  • Robyn Gallagher,

    Interesting lead pitch, before running the blog-spam.

    Yeah, insulting potential customers and not proof-reading your comment - that's so not the way to do it.

    Since Nov 2006 • 1946 posts Report Reply

  • Russell Brown,

    Should I leave it up there, then?

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report Reply

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