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Strategies & Market Trends : Gorilla and King Portfolio Candidates -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: Thomas Mercer-Hursh who wrote (53199)	11/27/2002 11:37:26 AM
From: Stock Farmer	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 54805

Thomas If one has multi-mode wireless, then using WiFi where it is available and something else where it is not is a solution that works. If one is WiFi only, then it isn't useable where it isn't available. Sure. But the point is far simpler. You only need a solution that provides data where it is NEEDED. Not where it COULD BE NEEDED. Furthermore, the very fact that people are mobile allows them to GO to places where data is AVAILABLE rather than demand that it is brought to where they are. This creates an economic utility: there is a cost of getting broadband, dimensioned in terms of dollars, time and effort moving. Most people will trade off in these dimensions - many will go to where they can find data for free rather than pay to have it delivered to them wherever they are. It's not a question of better or best in all situations. Good enough is often good enough. . Starbucks can decide to host WiFi because they think it will draw in additional customers for coffee, but where is the economic incentive that will make it really widespread? Look around. Starbucks would not provide a service as a charity. Imagine that 10% of customers will go to where data is available rather than have it served to them wherever they are (not unreasonable, particularly amongst value sensitive, young, fit demographic where time and motility are cheap relative to dollars). Any place that has data available will be preferenced over any place that does not. That's quite an economic incentive. Applies to greasy spoons, restaraunts, hotels, delis, malls... any place with chairs that folks could pull out a laptop or pda. That effect alone would be enough to blanket most cities. John John