- Wi-Fi evolved with the advent of the Internet, having its beginnings in the early 1990s. The name Wi-Fi was a play on the audio term Hi-Fi, providing a catchy term that was synonymous with high fidelity, or high quality. The first public offering of free Wi-Fi was done by the California city of Sunnyvale.
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There are two types of Wi-Fi offerings: business or city. Many businesses offer free Wi-Fi in hopes of luring more customers with the latest technology. The types of businesses that offer free Wi-Fi include hospitals, coffee shops and fast food restaurants, among others. There are free Wi-Fi zones, popularly known as "hotspots", in many major cities, including London, New Orleans and Philadelphia.
- With thousands of free Wi-Fi zones around the country, it is probable that there's one near where you live. Several websites provide free up-to-date listings of free Wi-Fi hotspots by address or zip code (see Resources below).
- One of the basic benefits of free Wi-Fi is that the user can maintain constant Internet connection, and is not limited to a wired, indoor Internet connection. Because most Wi-Fi is offered for free, the user is not encumbered through logins or signing up for extra service through their Internet service provider.
- It's important to use Wi-Fi that is intended for free use. Many people, some unintentionally, "piggyback" on open Internet connections that belong to private parties. A very serious safety concern is the potential of hackers or identity thieves stealing your information through open Wi-Fi hotspots. In order to minimize this possibility, it is recommended to connect through a virtual private network, or VPN. Many reputable companies who offer free Wi-Fi also offer VPN for a nominal free.
