The catch phrase in this upcoming holiday season by top three web shareholders is ‘Free Wi-Fi’. Google, Yahoo, Microsoft are exploring various dimensions to gain more and more popularity and the recent step is their invasion into public interest for free and easy access to internet connectivity.
Though their marketing tactics differ in the terms and conditions and location too but basic idea underlying is same. In an attempt to provide provision for customers to access free Wi-Fi Google has under mapped 47 airports, Microsoft has enabled the free Wi-Fi service at various hotspots and yahoo has targeted the Times Square.
Microsoft started with the idea back in September since when they are giving away free Wi-Fi at hotspots around US. Accessing free Wi-Fi was only open after a user makes use of Bing search engine at least once. They partnered with a mobile advertising network JiWire.
Yahoo joined the race with its announcement on 
Monday that they have partnered with the Times Square Alliance to make free Wi-Fi accessible to the smartphones and PCs of the more than 500,000 people who visit Times Square daily. The promotion starts today lasting for a year.
Google disclosed its holiday season plans on Tuesday announcing free Wi-Fi access in 47 airports across country through Jan 15. Travelers who connect to a wireless “hot spot” at one of the airports will see a browser page that gives them the chance to donate to three charities and have the donation matched by Google.
Google is also providing free Wi-Fi on Virgin America flights for the same period.
EBay Inc. has also stepped in the flavor and will provide free Wi-Fi on some Delta Air Lines Inc. planes during the week of Thanksgiving. Though the Wi-Fi enabled area will take loggers to eBay’s holiday page first after which they will be free to surf the web.
The competition gets tougher with every company trying to attract more and more customers with various schemes and promotional plans of action but yes getting the fruits of competition are the consumers.